Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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Senator, please stop interrupting me. I think I am very fair with everyone – witnesses and members – on this committee. It is very frustrating when the Senator does not allow me to finish my point. What happened in respect of the point that was made was fine, but the Senator said a great deal that the officials are not in a position to answer. Regardless of whether people disagree, that is my decision as Chair. I have to run this forum in a way that is fair to everyone. The Minister is not here and the officials cannot answer the questions. I take the Senator’s point about the comments made concerning the legal matters, and that question can be answered, but we are not here to seek the officials’ views on some of those political points. Those are questions for the Minister, who is before the committee regularly. They can be put to him.

I call Deputy Canney to discuss the idea behind the Bill and the various services.