Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

It is so laughable that it is not worthy of comment. We found out about the charges because I asked for the advice of the Attorney General. I spent half a day being briefed by the Department when I went there and met Mr. Kelly every day that I was in Hawkins House. At no stage did anyone seek to tell me about the matter. While it is true that meetings were postponed, it was because I had to deal with legislation in the House, as is frequently the case. The idea that something that had gone on for 26 years was not dealt with before 14 October, six weeks after I went to the Department, because a meeting was cancelled is so laughable that it is not worthy of comment.

See this speech in context