Professor John Sweeney:

I would refer the Deputy to my previous answer. If the ex officiomembers are to be present - there is a case for providing information to the council which is very strong and we must recognise that - I do not believe they should have voting rights as of right. Ultimately, they are paid by the public purse. They are also individuals who are loath, in some cases, to criticise Government policy and therefore would be inhibited from perhaps adopting the same kind of approach that a more independent-minded advisory council would like to adopt in certain circumstances. For those reasons, if they are to be on the council they should not be voting.