Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

By way of information for Deputy McManus, ours is a small Department and the officials work extremely hard on a very heavy legislative workload. However, I will reaffirm to the officials who work under my direction that they should, when bringing forward additional amendments in transit, partake in comprehensive briefing of Opposition Deputies. I am open to making sure there is fuller and better briefing, where necessary, from officials directly to Members opposite. I agree with the Deputy that amendments should not be introduced in that manner, but it inevitably happens because of the pressures under which the Department is working. The compensating measure, if it is to happen, should be that Opposition Members are briefed regarding such amendments in a better and more timely fashion as the legislation is moving through the House.

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