Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

——unless it was manifestly unreasonable. If one feels one's post to a Minister is being diverted, there are other ways to contact directly him or her. Ministers are extremely accessible and I do not know of any Minister who is beyond communication.

I have only experience of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform on a personal level since I became Minister. During my tenure, no other Department has been more open and consultative in its legislative approach. No other Department has published heads of Bills, taken amendments, had lengthy debates and put out draft legislation for consultation. No other Department has sent its papers to the Irish Human Rights Commission.

See this speech in context