Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

Senator Norris said that an amount of money was spent on St. Catherine's and asked how it could be closing when money had been spent to bring it up to a particular standard. If people took the time to read the report from beginning to end, they would see the works had to be carried out to bring it up to the required health and safety standards in order to go forward for the following three years.

I am not long in this House and am probably politically naive and ill-informed about many matters. I can only aspire to the greatness and fluency in the political system of Senator Ryan and others. However, as far as I know, if a freedom of information officer is asked to give out something, and if it is appropriate to do so, he or she should give it out. I used this facility once or twice in my previous occupation. I lobbied and made extensive representations based on the facts and the Minister made his decision based on the facts and value for money.