Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As Senator David Norris said, a person may be accompanied and represented by a trade union official, an official of an employers' body, a practising barrister, a solicitor or any other person if the adjudication officer so permits. There are only limited circumstances where the adjudication officer would not so permit and the adjudicating officer cannot whimsically exclude a person who has been chosen. However, as I do not think that is adequately explained in paragraph (b), I will revert to the Senator on the matter.