Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yes, that is all right. I was unable to attend for very good reasons. I wish to point out to members of the joint committee, in particular, that I have attended more meetings than any other Minister. I have attended that committee 25 times in less than three years but my predecessors attended maybe a third of that, if that. I am very happy and appreciate coming in here. It is an exercise that is usually very valuable but members should realise that sometimes it is not possible for me to appear before the joint committee.

My absence is not out of an unwillingness to be here, because my record will show I am more than willing to be here, but it is occasionally not possible. If people are critical of what happened last week, they should understand that my attendance record is impeccable.