Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)

Just because I disagree with regard to whether a committee should be placed on a statutory footing does not mean that I do not necessarily agree with other amendments - such as that which we are discussing - tabled by the Opposition.

Reference was made to the Green Party and it is fair to state that our membership structures need to be changed, particularly in view of the fact that it is not possible to deal with urgent legislation by means of special conventions. The Minister has, unintentionally I presume, caused some problems for the Green Party, which engaged in a fulsome debate and adopted a thorough process of analysis in respect of what was contained in the Bill, as drafted. Many of the views taken on board were genuinely held by the party's membership. At our special conference, the legislation, as it then existed but with some amendments from the Green Party, was agreed by our membership.

At that point, however, the special purpose vehicle and the surcharge were unknown to us.

See this speech in context