Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My comment is not on the substance of the matter because, to be honest, I have no more information. In fact, that is the point I wish to raise. It is difficult for me to be a member of the committee when there is a debate in which one member questions the contribution made by the Minister based on a document I do not have available to me. I do not have the Attorney General's advice. I do not believe it has been published. Regarding this processes, it is a difficult position for members of the committee to be in when a suggestion is made before the committee but we do not have the facts before us.

I am not asking for the Minister of State to make the Attorney General's advice available to me. I just wanted to point out it is a very difficult position to be in. I am not speaking to the substance of the amendment or to the comment. This is just about the process. It is difficult to make an allegation before a committee when other members of the committee just do not have the information available. I have not seen the Attorney General's advice and I do not know what else is in it. Often, legal advice is put forward where advisers would say “on the one hand” and “on the other”. I do not know what was said “on the one hand” or “on the other”. It is therefore a difficult position to be in. That is the problem.