Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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It is important to address the context of how these issues are progressed, particularly this Bill. The Tánaiste has received fresh advice from the Attorney General. He referred to that advice. We have not seen that advice. Under current conventions, we will never see that advice, on the basis that the Attorney General advises Government and Government advises Parliament, as the Tánaiste is doing and indeed as Mr. Smyth is doing. This is not for today and it will not be for this committee but I believe it is imperative, having regard to the discussion here, that some mechanism is found to furnish this committee with the advice of the Attorney General. We will never have the full advice and will never be able to adjudicate on all matters unless and until we are in a position to comment on the advice of the Attorney General. It is not for today but it is an issue for the future. The Tánaiste talked about exceptional circumstances. The provision of the advice of the Attorney General to Members of the Legislature is important, notwithstanding the role of the Attorney General to advise the Executive.