Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I want to stick with the timeline for the purposes of clarity. The Minister told us that he became aware of the existence of the email to the former Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality on 13 November in his constituency office. It was found on 9 November. What is the explanation of why the Minister was not told for those four days? Why did he not ask to see it immediately? I know he was taken aback by being informed of the retirement but I think most people would connect the two, with, for example, a person saying, "I am retiring and by the way we found an important new email". Did the Minister not ask to see it and why did he not do so? Why did he not tell the former Tánaiste of its existence? She was required to actually ring the Department to be informed. In fact, neither the Department nor the Minister ever told her directly. Why was it not sent to the tribunal for a full week, particularly if the Minister instructed this to happen on 13 November last? Why is it that the writ of the Minister, a direct instruction, could go unresponded to for a full week in respect of a matter of this importance?

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