Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

I agree with the previous speaker. Will the Taoiseach not acknowledge that it is completely unsatisfactory that a private briefing, away from the public gaze, will be provided by a civil servant to a few select Members? Does he agree that in any democratic society with a parliamentary system such as that which obtains here, it is only appropriate that matters of this nature be dealt with and debated openly in Parliament? Does he further agree that adopting such a process would make an important contribution in the context of the future public debate that will take place on asking the people to approve the treaty by way of referendum? Is he of the view that it is damaging to deal with matters of this significance behind closed doors?

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