Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Once a person is in the parliamentary party, he or she, like everybody else, gets the briefing on legislation from the Whip and is well informed. When one is not in the parliamentary party, it is not as easy to be briefed on legislation. Most of the briefing in question is on legislation in respect of which individuals would want to be aware of the Government's position or issues that arise. It would be very odd if somebody supporting the Government did not have that courtesy available to him or her.

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