Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

Like other parties, the Green Party was notified about the briefing yesterday. Why was there that level of secrecy surrounding the briefing? We were trying to find out who should go to the briefing and whether I, Deputy Boyle or some other party spokesperson was responsible for the legislation. We could not find out, for example, if it related to Waterways Ireland. The level of secrecy displayed was worthy of the planning for a coup d'état but we discovered at the briefing that the legislation was to deal with a technicality as a result of some incompetence on the Government's part which had to be rectified. However, it cannot be retrospective with regard to court cases that might arise from the legislation.

Why was the matter clouded in such secrecy? Why is the legislation required so urgently? That should be explained because it is clouded in mystery.

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