Averil Power (Fianna Fail)

I support this amendment. Section 18(3) provides that the chief executive shall not be required to give account before a committee for any matter which is, has been or may be the subject of proceedings before a court or a tribunal in the State. Whatever about a matter that is sub judice, it is extraordinary to rule out discussions afterwards on issues that have been subject to court proceedings or to be able theoretically to rule out anything on the basis that is may later be subject to court proceedings. It appears to give huge scope for lack of accountability to a committee. It is entirely unnecessary. There are already legal protections regarding how committees do their business and if there is a genuine legal problem, there are mechanisms for dealing with that. However, to remove completely any role for the committee in this respect is entirely disproportionate and unnecessary.