Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Of course. It is an absolutely outrageous accusation that I did not come before the committee because I did not want to do so. It is quite extraordinary how many times I have come before the committee and I am willing to do so. If the insinuation is that in some way I did not want to do so or was not willing to come, it is absurd. I am here now and can discuss the matters today. It would have been totally irresponsible of me to say I could come last week in the full knowledge that I would almost certainly have to speak about Brexit in the Dáil at the same time. I accepted the invitation to go into the Dáil to deal with a Topical Issue as I was available at the time. The invitation from the committee was received much earlier.