Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

There is more to it than that, with respect. I would submit that the explanation that the Chairman has just given is disingenuous. The Chairman is now saying that when a name was suggested originally, that the Chairman did not take it on. I have always stated at this committee that it is the Chairman's response, and the secretariat behind the Chairman, to propose a list that would test the issues fully. I have always made that very clear. The fact is that the Chairman did not do the necessary investigation and then after the event, after a decision has been made by the committee, an invitation was issued by the Chairman. I would say that it is at the minimum a courtesy and I would argue more than that. It is a matter of fair procedures that the Chairman would put the response on the record. The Chairman's response just now was disingenuous.

With regard to the second organisation I referred to, the Chairman had already declined to bring it before the committee, as I understand it from correspondence with it. Then the Chairman and the secretariat appear to have changed their minds. It seems to me that different reasons are being offered for different courses of-----