Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

When the request for funding for independent legal advice was refused in recent weeks, as outlined in the letter that was mentioned, am I right in saying the reason given was that the committee had its own resources? Did the committee make the decision to refuse it on the basis that it had its own resources? If the committee has its own resources, what mechanism is open to the committee if it has a four-four split with one having a casting vote? I know from being on strategic policy groups and local authorities that the chair has a deciding vote. In my experience the chair rarely votes in favour of the request and generally backs the local authority and in this case the CIÉ group. What mechanism exists to get that funding if they are going to be blocked at every turn and it is rigged in favour of the group?