Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Thursday or Friday. I thank Deputy Leddin. I accept the Minister of State's point with regard to reserving his right to view these at a later date, but four days is a sufficient period of time for his Department to have done the background work on the proposed amendments. It is particularly appropriate given it is one of his party colleagues who brought it to him, in part. I am a little confused that we are not in possession of a ministerial response at this time. It is not a criticism. It is more the process. The Minister of State knows the process. I find it a little bit concerning that the Department, for instance, does not have an answer to the question I posed. I know the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, OPC, is busy but we should be able to get these answers pretty promptly. I ask that the Minister of State and the Department have an appropriate level of response available when we return. These things should not be a surprise and four days is ample time for the Department to prepare when it knows it is coming to this committee for Committee Stage.