Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am coming to it now and I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for his indulgence. I put on the record my commendation of the flexibility shown by the Chair today, and my appreciation of other members for their patience.

Mr. Downes knows this is part of pre-legislative scrutiny in respect of the illegal Israeli settlements divestment Bill. There is no need for this pre-legislative scrutiny. The committee has agreed to waive it. Government insisted we have it. We had meetings about pre-legislative scrutiny. A member of the Government insisted that Mr. Downes come before the committee. That Government member is not here today, so it is clear this is part of an overall strategy the Department has been dragged into by Government Members in these Houses to try to delay and frustrate the transposition of what is important legislation. Mr. Downes's opening statement makes minimal reference to the actual Bill. Is it fair to say that officials from the Department of enterprise do not have input in respect of the Bill before us - good, bad or indifferent? Their jobs will be to deal with the outworking of any legislation passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas. Are they confident they will be able to do that?