Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will be perfectly honest about this. I do not think I myself have had any direct approach from them, despite the fact that everybody else has. I may be mistaken but I am not aware of it. However, that does not really matter. I told Deputy Munster last week, I think in the Dáil, and I repeat it to the committee that I am happy to meet them. I have not been convinced by the case made for placing the body on a statutory footing, but that may partly be due to the fact that I have not met them. I would be very happy to meet them on any appropriate occasion and we will take it from there but currently, we have no plans to meet the significant issue they are addressing on being put on a statutory basis. However, I assure Deputies Troy, Munster and Murphy that I will meet them.