Professor John McHale:

On the first question, we are open to suggestions from the committee. As I said, we genuinely value our interactions with it. As an independent body that reports in the main to the public through the Oireachtas, we see this as an integral part of what we do. We would welcome particular suggestions the committee might have consistent with our mandate. While I cannot promise that we will deal with them because we must at all times adhere to our mandate and resources, we will consider them very seriously. The Deputy's point on capital expenditure is one we could take up in our discussions tomorrow to see if something could be done on that side.

In regard to appointments, once the council was placed on a statutory footing - on 1 January 2013 or the last day of 2012 - that was when the appointments officially started. They were made on the same basis, with one person being appointed for a two year term and the others on a two or four year basis. Under the fiscal responsibility Act we can, at the discretion of the Minister, be reappointed once. The first year term is due to expire at the end of the year.