John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Before the witnesses respond, I wish to ensure they are aware of the work the committee is doing and that this is not an isolated meeting. Mr. Fitzgerald referred to previous meetings of the committee. The committee will be drafting a report on this issue and that is the context for their presence. In particular, I ask them to address the steps they have tried to take on this issue and the way in which those steps have not worked. Those are the matters with which the committee is concerned because there seem to be recommendations that could flow from that. I ask them to be conscious of what we are trying to do. They highlighted the issues in various sectors and that is why they are here. I ask them to also address the ways in which the system has failed and to provide detail on their frustrations such as that provided by Captain Cullen when he referred to a test case having been tied up for three years in scope section.