19 that there is not yet a final determination, but  this business of secrecy and subterfuge I find counter-productive and unattractive. In  my  view  in  life  generally,  best  outcomes  arise  where  every  proposition  is  open  to challenge,  scrutiny  and  assessment.  If  law  reform  agencies  are  not  operating  at  that level, I suggest that they lose their reason to exist. It takes considerable skill sometimes to assess who can be affected and who can make a contribution. Sometimes, in seeking to do so, you are likely to face hostility from those who  consider  that  the  patch  is  theirs  alone.    Most  people  now  accept  that,  in  the  law generally,   we   have   traditionally   failed,   rather   abysmally,   in   our   processes   and procedures  as  well  as  in  our  decision- making  to  have  sufficient  regard  to  economic consequences.  Too often, in a desire to be consistent, we fail to recognise that the same response will have enormously different consequences for some individuals.  Doing the same  thing  in  the  same  way  might  be  termed  justice,  but  it  is  frequently  unfair  and inequitable.  Law reform is about tackling these problems. A  constant  challenge  is  the  possibility  of  becoming  involved  in  collaborative  projects where other arms or organs of government which are looking at issues and we are seen as having a contribution to make.  This is a thorny area.  It has the potential for us to become   subsumed   into   the   process   of   others   and   for   our   independence   to   be consequently distorted.  On the other hand, if we have the capacity and the skill to deal with  a  matter  which  requires  a  principled  assessment,  then  we  should  not  be  aloof  or detached. The  core  test  must  always  be  whether  there  is  a  guarantee  of  independence  in  the process, assessment and recommendation.  If any of those have to be compromised, then the  Law  Commission  should  not  be  involved.    If  there  is  a  conclusion  which  is  to  be argued towards as a fundamental requirement of the exercise, then the Commission has no part to play.