Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Today is an historic event. He has ad-libbed plus used his iPad which is a first for the House, as opposed to his reading a script or ad-libbing. I am glad that he is here to listen to the points of the Members of this House. It is regrettable, however, that his colleagues, Deputies Howlin and Noonan, left their stations before listening to the entirety of the Opposition's lead spokespeople. That is unfortunate and does not augur well for the cognisance by Government of the points that may be made. The Minister of State is not going to do that because he has kindly agreed to attend here.