Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

Senator Mullen told me it was the Chief of Staff and the Advocate General. The Defence Forces has its own legal structure. I had no hand or part in telling the Chief of Staff how he should deal with interviews on a committee of that nature, or who should be selected. I have no hand or part in telling that to the Advocate General. As Minister for Defence, I have no intention of interfering with the independent deliberations of that committee, and never have had. I do not know whether there is some history of Fianna Fáil Ministers attempting such interference but I will tell the Deputy one thing for sure - this Minister will not engage in such interference. There are individuals who will make a judgment as to who should be appointed, based on the criteria prescribed and having regard to the qualifications of those who come before them. There is no ready-up. However, we cannot maintain, for it is not sustainable, a situation where, first, there is apparent confusion as to what falls within the qualification criteria prescribed by the 2007 legislation-----