Ms Noelle O'Connell:

I thank the committee. Regarding members' points about the qualitative analysis, we have been conscious of that challenge since we first started doing this in 2010. To that end, we publish a detailed report every year, on average 80 pages long, in which we try to flesh these matters out in greater detail, outline some of the methodologies around the indicators and highlight the extra reports and meetings of this committee. I have had the opportunity and honour of presenting before the committee on the future of Europe, Europe week, Ireland's 40 years and so on. We acknowledge that more is happening. The challenge that we face is one of where to draw the balance and communicate the information in as accessible a manner as possible while recognising the committee's valid request that we not lose sight of the qualitative framework. I will take that request on board.

In undertaking the accountability project for the past five years, we have reached the point of being able to assess what has worked and what has not. For example, we used to consider the number of consultations that Ireland submitted as part of the European Commission consultation process. However, we found that many Directorates General were publishing their findings after we had gone to print. The figures that we were presenting based on our research were correct at the time of going to print, but they did not present the whole picture. As such, we decided to focus elsewhere.

Taking on board members' comments on metrics and the point that a number of them raised about the cost factor, we, as an organisation that was founded 60 years ago to promote and develop Ireland's engagement with Europe, believe it to be vital that Ireland is represented at the table. The primarily upwards trajectory in the past five years has been encouraging. Based on a rough snapshot of the infographics, there has been a welcome increase.

Deputy Kyne asked about discrepancies as well as the variance in the number of written questions and opinions. For many reports and opinions, it is a question of timing. Some years, more are published and come to fruition while other years see a decline. When we asked for our former President of the European Parliament, Mr. Pat Cox's take on the accountability report, he had an interesting view. He stated that his experience of the parliamentary question procedure had led him to conclude early on that it was less effective to follow up questions in depth than it was to write letters to the relevant Commissioners or Commission or Council staff. MEPs have fed this view back to us. Sometimes, it is more effective to pick up the telephone. I do not have to elaborate on that for the committee. Attendance figures and raw data are static and we acknowledge that they are not dynamic measurements of engagement, standing, impact, influence and outputs, but measuring them is none the less important.

I am conscious of the time.