They may be required to be met (7)

I believe the answer is:

demands

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'they' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are plural nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?

I can't explain the remainder of the clue.

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(Other definitions for demands that I've seen before include "Requests forcefully" , "Asks peremptorily" , "Insists upon" , "Orders" , "Insistent requests" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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