Mr. Brian Lucas:

On the appointment of the chair, after the review report was published in September last year, the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, agreed to go ahead with the appointment. An advertisement was placed in the national newspapers seeking expressions of interest. It ran for two approximately two months, until the end of November. The expressions of interest were then assessed by a departmental panel and a recommendation was made to the Minister of State on the basis of the assessment carried out by the panel.

I do not agree this working group is a facade. It has come about through a long process through the issues paper and review report. The Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, decided to establish the working group, under an independent chair, arising from a number of submissions on the review report. I do not see any reason the working group should not commence its work very quickly.

I also do not agree there is a predetermined outcome. In my opening statement, I indicated the working group was to examine the seven issues identified during the review. They are a framework for the group to act but I do not believe there is a predetermined outcome. There will be different views and different people will have different priorities. Let us see if we can come up with a solution to the short-term problems and the medium- and long-term issues.

I cannot say whether there is a viable alternative for the mushroom industry. The committee heard the industry witness in the last session who is more expert than am I. It would not be fair of me to make a comment on that. The same goes for horticultural peat exports, which would come under the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. It would not be fair or appropriate of me to say whether it should be stopped.

However, this working group is not a facade. I am not a politician and I am there.

I have been asked to do a job and I am prepared to do it to the best of my ability. I do not think it is a facade and I do not think it has a predetermined outcome. Let us get people in the room and let us see if we can come up with a solution.