Mr. Conor Skehan:

That is the matter of gaming the system or otherwise. That is the matter of people taking offence at the things I have said or otherwise. Is it completely clear where that has come from and where it is going?

In terms of the questions asked about describing homelessness as normal - I am sorry, as I keep picking on Deputy Ó Broin - one of the important functions of this committee is to base policy and decisions on evidence. One of the most normal processes in all fields of human endeavour, but especially in the field of public policy, is to benchmark so that we can know how we are doing compared with other places or sectors. Saying that our homelessness issues are normal is a call to examine the ratio of people who are homeless in various categories in Ireland compared with other EU member states overall, other member states in similar circumstances and other parts of the world. That is what normal means. It calls on people to recognise something about the levels of homelessness in Ireland. To use my complete statement, I said that homelessness was a dreadful thing to befall anyone, but we must recognise that it occurs everywhere in the world for more or less the same mix of reasons. It is only by examining that and seeing it in this context that the committee can start to direct the Oireachtas's attention towards policies that are likely to be effective as opposed to those that are merely based on anecdote and emotion. That is the point of drawing attention to the issue.

I cannot read my scrawled handwriting, so if I have overlooked something that the Senator asked, please forgive me. I have referred to "normal", gaming the system and people taking offence. I was also asked whether the Minister summoned me to express his displeasure. On the contrary, the Minister made a public statement that chairpersons were appointed and valued for the provision of independent advice. He may or may not agree with that advice, but that is our role, particularly as an agency that is specifically mandated to be independent and to tell people what they need to hear, even if it is not always what they want to hear. Does that answer the Senator's question?