Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister and I appreciate his open and frank statement. My questions will, I hope, address the overall context. We have reached an impasse and the Minister has identified some of the background to it. Clearly he will not engage in the tit-for-tat exchanges that seem to exist here. Is he satisfied that the legislation is strong enough to address the situation that has evolved and developed or should we look at some legislative change that will allow him to perhaps act differently? The decisions the Minister has taken are as he has taken. That is down to the advice he has received and has to follow. Has any analysis been done of the legislative basis on which this organisation was established in order to address this situation?

Perhaps I should have put my second question first. The people who were on the board have been removed on a no-fault basis. Has the Minister or his officials had an exit discussion with each of those board members to understand their concerns? Clearly the board was not functioning and these are people who are of high standing, some of whom were appointed by this committee and some by a previous Minister.