John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

They decided to operate in that way. If individuals in statutory agencies under my remit behaved in that way and came out in public to criticise policy, eyebrows would be raised. I understand the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food spoke to the chairperson, which is right and proper. There is a right way to conduct business. In this case, people overstepped the mark and that is why it was right and proper for the Minister to take the course of action he did.