Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Countless journalists, rightly, asked the Minister a question on this issue, as did Members of this House, and on 6 December he answered the Dáil and stated: "I have not made my views known and I am not going to. I have a decision to make". I do not know what the Minister said to any of the other journalists. I presume they will check what he said at that time. Surely, however, there was a difference in what he said to Mr. Ó Neachtain in that he indicated to him that he would likely make the decision, and that is the difference.

What is the Minister's personal relationship or connection to Eoghan Ó Neachtain? How did he get to know him or how long has he been working with him over the years? How could Eoghan Ó Neachtain ring the Minister and he take the call. I know Eoghan Ó Neachtain very well. Most people here would as well. Has the Minister had a particular relationship with him, was this the first time he may have been talking to him, would he have been talking to him regularly, or would they have worked together in the past?

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