Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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I wish to tease out a little the reference to the expert advisory group. The witness stated that it should publish annual reports without ministerial consent and have the independence and autonomy to do so. I understand where the witnesses are coming from in that regard. Who should be permitted to sit on and operate within the expert advisory group? Will the witnesses elaborate on how it should be structured and how they believe independence can be maintained vis-à-vis the Minister and the Government? Given that we are in a progressive minority in the European Union, as outside France, Sweden, Austria, and the UK we are the only State to date which has published and is on the road to enacting domestic climate change legislation, what is in the proposed legislation that the witnesses would favour and welcome?