Mr. Phil Meaney:

I brought a lot of paperwork the last time we were before the Committee of Public Accounts because I thought this issue might come up but it did not come up. I was appointed in 2011 and, as part of my appointment, I was to go before the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine for the appointment to be ratified. I wrote shortly after that to the present Chairman of that committee informing him of my availability. After six months, I had not been brought before the committee and I again informed the Chairman of my availability. After our first appearance before the Committee of Public Accounts, I again wrote to the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine indicating my availability to go before it. I am still prepared to do so at any stage. I have no problem whatsoever going before the joint committee. In many ways, I am disappointed that it did not call me in.