Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Exactly. Public utterances come from the chairperson. I note that when the council issues its report it is usually the chairperson, Professor McHale, who speaks in public on its behalf and sets out the views of the council. It is a matter for the council to determine that; it is not a matter for Government or the Legislature to tell the council how to speak in public. There may well be occasions when, in the view of the council, all of its members in total, or a group of them if there is a specific area that requires discussion, should come before the committee. We do not propose to accept amendment No. 20. We have not discussed No. 21 yet.