Mr. Chris Byrne:

It is important to put this in context. The first thing I got from HSI was a letter of apology that it forgot to invite us to attend a meeting where it was selecting its representatives and to inform us that we had been allocated a position. In response, I asked for information, background, what exactly we were supposed to do, what the rules of engagement would be and how that was going to be administered. We needed a briefing of what position it was offering us, what that position would entail and what its responsibilities would be. None of that was forthcoming. As soon as that is forthcoming, we will then look at it, analyse it and make a decision as a body.

At present, we are in a vacuum. We are being asked to join the party without even knowing what the party is about. I had concerns about previous engagements with HSI where undertakings were given and never followed through. As regards the inclusion of ECVOA, HSI engaged with everybody else but forgot to engage with us and then found the time to send a letter of apology for this lack of engagement but asked us to engage the day before it would make its selection, and that is simply inadequate.