David Norris (Independent)

Yes, thank you.

I wish to comment on the unfortunate day in the various committees yesterday. The American ambassador did not turn up at the meeting of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, of which I and Senator Ryan are members, and there was a last minute change. The committee has no compellability with respect to foreign ambassadors and must deal with them in a courteous and diplomatic way — we simply point to precedents. With regard to yesterday's meeting, we were concerned that the American Government was attempting to establish a precedent whereby its ambassador would meet with us in private. This has been strongly resisted by the committee. However, my understanding is that this was not a personal decision of the ambassador as I believe his cards were well and truly marked by the State Department. We have no quarrel with the ambassador, who has always been very courteous.