Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring:

A part of the January meeting was to discuss general work for GSOC into the future, in particular the question of legislative change. At that stage, the Minister expressed an interest in stand-alone legislation. In so far as the specific proposals were concerned, we had made our case and there was some contact in return about the nature of the investigative staff, administrative supports and suchlike. It was not until much later in the year - May - that we got any confirmation as to final numbers. There was not a specific reference at the meeting beyond the fact that we were making the proposals and anxious to get a decision on the question of staffing.