Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Absolutely. I have no problem in answering that question. Last week I was in a position where I had to deal with a portion of the debate on Second Stage of the Brexit Bill. We were on alert to be available all day to take that debate. If I had accepted an invitation to come here in the morning, it would have been in total contravention of that commitment and I would have had to let down the committee to deal with the Brexit Bill. I did not know whether I would be able to come at the time. As it happened, my piece on Brexit was left until the afternoon, but I did not know that when I received the committee's invitation. It would have been completely inappropriate for me to accept the invitation to come in the full knowledge I might be called to deal with the other issue at the same time. That is the only reason. I could not have attended in the afternoon and in the morning I had other engagements. It would have been mad for me to accept the invitation when I knew I would not be able to come.