Professor Siobhán Mullally:

On the last question, what we have done as a commission is appoint working chairpersons on a rotating basis. Our opening meeting was chaired by my colleague, Mr. Kieran Rose. I chaired our second meeting and I am chairing in between. That is the decision we have taken and we are keeping it under review.

It is very much our concern that the recruitment and selection of the chief commissioner be progressed as soon as possible and without delay. A recommendation of the working group established to advise on the new body was that this was a key leadership role which would require significant commitment and expertise to lead the merger process and enhance the functions of both bodies in that process. We would like to see an independent and transparent process for the recruitment and selection of the commissioner that is fully compliant with powers and principles. That will, of course, be essential to our accreditation as an A-status institution and appearing and, in fact, being fully transparent and independent. We have full confidence in the processes completed to date. Ideally, we would like to see this continuing and being restarted, if possible, without delay because it is essential to progressing all of our work and ensuring we have an effective process.