Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

In those circumstances, 13 members of the commission could be sitting in a room. They could have nominated one of their members to be chairperson who will have a vote and a casting vote and, even then, they are told the meeting cannot proceed because lay members are insufficiently represented.

Let us flip this coin over to its other side. Why is there not a minimum representation of legal people required to make a meeting quorate? Why should a meeting not be invalid where only the lay people turn up and for some reason the lawyers do not? What is the underlying bias and prejudice in this legislation? It is to copper-fasten and nail to the ground the idea that the legal members on this body are, in effect, second class citizens-----