Ms Mary Freehill:

The committee will be glad to hear that I wish to comment briefly. I wish to reply to Senator Leyden on whether we make reports at regional assembly level. Yes, we do as members of the Committee of the Regions. We also present a more detailed three-monthly report. Certainly, the members do participate and engage with us because they are very interested in what is going on. It is a great learning opportunity for a lot of them. It is also worth noting that members of the press do not come to regional assembly meetings. I do not know if the press sees that there is not much power at regional assembly level and for that reason does not participate. Perhaps that is telling us something.