Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I understand that, which is why I prefaced my remarks in the way I did. Could I have a briefing note within a week? I believe that is a fair timeline. The note should cover the size of the site in Rathdowney, what exactly is planned for it and the timeline for locating the first group there and should include any other information Mr. Buckley feels would be helpful. At least we will then be up to date, even if we were not consulted in the first instance. However, we need to be consulted. We live in a democracy. Whether people like us or not, the 160 of us are elected. I have family roots in that town. I have no answers for people. I cannot tell people anything. I have no information. It is totally unacceptable. I do not mean this in any disrespectful way but I have often said to council officials at public meetings that officials go home at 5 p.m. but that does not stop people ringing our phones or buttonholing us when they next see us, at mass or somewhere else, and asking what we have to say about something, why we did not raise a certain issue or whether we even know what is going on. A number of people rang the office and I had to say that I had no idea and had read about it in the local paper. That is not acceptable. I take on board what the witnesses have said. Speed is an issue here and the OPW has to react quickly. However, I am sure Dáil Deputies would make themselves available to be met with two or three days' notice. I do not want to speak for other Deputies but I would certainly be willing to accommodate that.