Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

Senator Byrne is handy at giving out. I sat quietly listening to him but he has great difficulty in listening to me and I suggest to Senator Byrne that he listens. Let us deal first with the issue of this Bill and then we can deal with the other issue raised in this House yesterday and today.

I want to make a number of points clear so they are not open to misinterpretation. RACO has made no representations about the military judge. I have received no representations. It is not an issue that has influenced me in any sense of the term in this legislation. I am not aware of anything landing in the Department, nor have I seen any representations from any member of the Fine Gael Party or the Labour Party in respect of any aspect of this legislation. No representation from any party had any hand or part in my dealings with this legislation.