Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want to tease out further the make up of the advisory committee. The importance of its independence has been mentioned and that there would be a preference that it would not be fitted in with the EPA but that it would be a standalone entity. Do either of the witnesses have an opinion on the membership and the ex officiomembers of the committee and what impact they would have on its independence? Is it normal that it has a voting system? There are ex officiomembers who have a vote that is worth the same as the other members and the chair has the casting vote.