Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Again, I raise the issue of the very serious motion before this House last week, which Senator Cullinane rightly raised. It was thrown in at the last minute to be taken without debate. I would like the Leader to clarify - I suppose he has already given an answer - whether the former Minister, Deputy Shatter, was in touch with him. In light of the precedent set in the Dáil - this is no reflection on the Cathaoirleach and I am not casting aspersions on him - I would like to know if he was in receipt of correspondence or communications from the former Minister, Deputy Shatter. We have to know why the motion for this commission of investigation was, unusually, to be taken without debate. The motion on the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes was taken with debate the day before.