John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It was different with regard to Department of Defence in the way they are represented. The unions would prefer to be represented by their congress, which will happen in the course of the hearings. They did not want to be represented individually. We must respect this because what they say may impact on some of the negotiations that take place outside of this room. They can either come themselves, which they chose not to, or be represented in the further discussions we will have with congress, which is a fair point. I would not like it to be understood that they refused to come; this is not the case. It is just the way they are represented in other Departments is different from how they are represented in the Department of Defence.