Ms Justice Laffoy claims the Department, under the direction of the Minister, did not co-operate with the commission established by the Oireachtas. This is an appalling charge against the Minister and, unfortunately, no member of Government has attempted to explain adequately why Ms Justice Laffoy felt obliged to resign her position. The contribution of the Minister for Social and Family Affairs does not indicate whether further insight will be provided into the reason Ms Justice Laffoy resigned. During recent meetings of the Joint Committee on Education and Science to discuss her resignation and the crisis facing the commission, the Minister for Education and Science could not answer critical questions that needed to be addressed. He was provided with an opportunity then and he has been provided with an opportunity today, but he is still foundering on this issue.