Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

To some extent, I regret that the Cathaoirleach interrupted Senator Leyden but he may have an opportunity, if we suffer the next amendment, to say a little more. What has happened here is most unfair. The Office of the Chief State Solicitor wrote - I presume on the instructions of the then Minister for Defence, Mr. Tony Killeen - that the Minister was conscious of the personal position of the client. This is a reference to the position of the individual in question last summer. The Minister was anxious, if possible, that a fair resolution of the present difficulty be achieved as quickly as possible and that there should be certainty as to the necessary qualifications required for the office. The view of the former Minister was that this poor man was in an unfortunate position and he genuinely felt sorry for him and recognised the need for certainty in the legislation as to who is eligible for the office.