Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to briefly get the Department's view on derogation. I understand the difficulty with sharing the advice of the Attorney General but what is the Department's position - I do not ask about the Minister - on derogation? We have heard different views expressed today. The Commission holds a very strong view, namely, that derogation no longer applies and we have heard legal opinion that it possibly does still apply. Does the Department have a view on derogation and where we currently are in that regard?