Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

To be helpful, my recollection of the meeting was that the papers had been served the Friday before, which prevented us having a wholesome discussion on the Tuesday. That was the official position. The discourse of the day was very much that the Department had a great story to tell but was not allowed to tell us it. Of course, we were frustrated with that and pointed out that the Department could tell the High Court but could not tell us. It was then said that the Department did not even have a statement of claim. The statement of claim is long since in and there would not be much in it that we have not sought here ourselves. To the best of my knowledge and the last time I checked, no defence had been lodged but there is a hearing on that. I defer to Deputy Connolly on the legal term.