Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I accept that those on the panel are not legislators but, as it stands, do they have the confidence in what we call the policy makers - the Financial Regulator, the Civil Service and the political establishment - and how they interact with business? Are there proposals that the panel could be putting forward to us that could change the way the business environment works in regards to the banks and other issues? Is there more that they could be doing? Do they have confidence that things will get done? Those on the panel come before committees such as this one and make their pitch because it is very much about the budget. They hear diverse ideological opinions and viewpoints when they are here. Are they being listened to?