Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I am nervous following a speaker who has had such experience of various Dáil committee investigations in the past, and facing a Minister with an extensive legal background. As someone who has been a Member of the Oireachtas for only two years, I am a little shy about speaking on such weighty issues as to how we should investigate the affairs of State. I will attempt to do my best, however, and give my humble opinion on this Bill and also on the broader question about the way we carry out our role, not just as legislators but as investigators here.

I will start with the Order of Business, which the Minister raised in a comment on the last contribution. If the Minister finds the Order of Business frustrating and difficult to get through, I can assure him that for those of us on the Opposition back benches it is pure torture.

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