Sir, – I am very concerned with aspects of the Public Accounts Committee inquiry relating to the CRC. The inquiry is, supposedly, independent to produce a fair and reliable (as to the truth) outcome, its procedures and the conduct of its members must reflect those aims. PAC’s job is to conduct the investigation in a quasi-judicial manner.
Yet, and alarmingly, PAC’s members are being interviewed on a daily basis by journalists and are widely quoted on TV and in newspapers. They freely express both personal and committee views, concerns and conclusions, generally laced with allegations of wrong doing against individuals called to appear before them, and long before their investigations are complete.
Is it any wonder that the notion of our TDs and Senators being capable of conducting an independent and fair inquiry has been rubbished by the courts (the Abbeylara case), and, more tellingly, by the public (the unsuccessful referendum). – Yours, etc,
ADRIAN FITZPATRICK,
Killashee,
Naas,
Co Kildare.