Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle) | Oireachtas source

I will say something else. We have just done something that I do not think we would ever have done before. I thank the Minister of State for being here to deal with this. I acknowledge that he and the Minister, Deputy Ryan, are unfailingly helpful in dealing with the House and Members. I also acknowledge that, routinely, when matters relating to transport are tabled for Topical Issues, we get a call from the Department of Transport to say it has no responsibility for them.

We have just had a debate about something that is before the courts. It is a basic principle of the operations of this place that we do not discuss matters that aresub judice. It is very interesting that the officials who wanted us to not engage with this Topical Issue because it was not a matter for them did not see fit to tell us that this was a matter that was before the courts. It only became clear when the Minister of State's response was being given in the aftermath of Deputy Healy-Rae's contribution. I consider this a profoundly serious matter that needs to be raised with the Secretary General in the Department of Transport because what has transpired here should not transpire.

The fourth Topical Issue, which also concerns a very important matter, has been tabled by Deputy Cannon. He wishes to discuss the serious deficit in public transport links between Loughrea and Galway city. The Department of Transport told us it was not responsible for this either.

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