Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

It was never my intention for this to emerge on air. I was always hoping and, as I said on many occasions, I was trying to afford her the opportunity to come in and meet me face to face. To be indicating you would not meet the Minister as a chair of a State body, I just could not believe that that would happen. That is why I was trying to afford the opportunity for Friday and hoping that that meeting would happen.

On everything that transpired the next week, as I said, it was not my intention to do it in the way it happened. I certainly do not believe that the former chair was intentionally giving me inaccurate information. If I was to end on anything, it is to put on record my genuine thanks for the chair in respect of the work that she did and her commitment.