Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I know, but maybe he will wait until I have asked my question. I am seeking clarification on behalf of my party leader on what arrangement is in place. As my colleague said, who is facilitated by this office? Is it facilitating all Members of the House? When we draft Private Members' Bills, we do so with the help of our research office and not any office within the Department of the Taoiseach.

Was the office put in place to deal with Deputies such as Deputy Lowry? The Taoiseach said Deputy Lowry has no role in supporting the Government, yet when in his constituency he said there is a clear understanding that he can get preference in terms of accessing Ministers and Ministers of State. The man is entitled to so do; he was duly elected by the people of Tipperary. Who is telling the truth? Is the Taoiseach telling the truth when he says there is no deal with Deputy Lowry? Is Deputy Lowry telling the truth when he says he has a deal with the Government?

Is the Taoiseach satisfied that all deals with Independent Deputies have been published? For example, have the details of the deal on the cath lab in University Hospital Waterford with the Minister of State, Deputy Halligan, been published? Our understanding on this side of the House, when we facilitated the supply and confidence arrangement, was that any deal done with an Independent Deputy to ensure his or her support for the Government would be published.

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