Professor John FitzGerald:

The staff of the institute would have very little interaction with the council. The council generally tries to have a trade unionist-employer representative balance as well as somebody from the voluntary sector. I am not sure who is a member now. David Begg was, as was Donal Nevin for a long period. I cannot remember, but Deputy Higgins has information on the membership. There is an internal process within the institute under the director but the council does not have any say and does not want a say in what the ESRI publishes because it would conflict. They are there to vindicate the independence of the institute, not to hamper it.