Mr. Michael McCarthy:

We had an internal strategy session more than two years ago, just before the pandemic. We as members contributed to that process. We identified the areas we felt were priorities for us. For example, one was the interaction with the regional assemblies on their corporate plans. We had a similar exercise approximately two weeks ago. It is an evolving space and we are a very different country now from where we were two and a half years ago. Let us take the local authority response during Covid and the role it is playing in identifying the housing needs as a consequence of the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia. We had a strategy session again two weeks ago to identify more issues. We constantly crystalise that and deal with that as the situation evolves. It is not a closed door. The exercise does not stop and start and finish but it is evolving. I assure the committee that if it sees an issue of significance where it sees a role for NOAC, our door is always open. I am always happy to liaise. The Senator has been exceptional on that and I appreciate the linkages and interconnections that we have had on the issues around NOAC and particularly around the elected members and highlighting the very good work that we do as a result of our statutory functions.