There was just one 45-minute break during the five-hour questioning of Revenue chairman, Dermot Quigley, this week at the Dail Committee of Public Accounts. While the break was welcomed by all it did not extend to Dermot Quigley himself.

He was told by committee chairman, Jim Mitchell, to spend his lunchbreak checking up on some files that committee members had inquired about.

"Use the break to discuss some of these issues with your colleagues," Mr Mitchell told the Revenue chairman, who had a hungry look when he returned for the afternoon session of the committee.