Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

Of course. I will try not to be repetitive. Having spent so much time here this evening I was struck by the comprehensive nature and the fundamentally sound arguments of a number of the speakers.

Senator Ross stated that it is natural for Governments to devise ways around things. In his capacity as a working journalist, he believes that the Government did not like the way in which the Freedom of Information Act has operated. He feels that it embarrassed the Government and that its response was typical in such a situation – it called in the mandarins. He views the mandarins as a secret organisation and sees it as the culture of all civil servants to bring the lid down on things.

He also made an interesting point in regard to Cabinet leaks. History is littered with numerous examples of Cabinet leaks. Senator Mooney is sitting in the seat usually occupied by the Leader of the House on the Order of Business.