Derek McDowell (Labour)

The third point I wish to make pertains to issues raised by Senator Cummins. He is perfectly entitled to be adversarial and to question the truthfulness of what I have said. However, I can tell him that I did not know about this matter. Had I known about it, it would have been much more convenient for me to say so, because stating that I did not know about the matter carried with it an attendant train of problems. Neither I nor the senior officials in my Department knew about it. That is a fact.

Second, the Senator noted that the Tánaiste told the Dáil today that in November 2002, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform was informed of the commencement of proceedings. Yes, it was so informed and an official of the Department immediately contacted the Chief State Solicitor's office, which told him about the commencement of proceedings. Members should be clear that the official was told on the telephone that nothing was required of the Department at that time and that it would be kept up to date about the matter as things developed.