Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Like previous speakers, I compliment both Irish national rugby teams on their victories, but I was saddened to see such a small turnout on Sunday for the excellent display of rugby by our female team. I congratulate them, given that it must have been difficult for the players to experience such a small turnout following the hype surrounding the men's team. They deserve great credit.

However, it is what happened on Sunday at lunchtime that has me on my feet.I found out that 23 meetings took place between the then Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Bord Gáis Éireann, for 13 of which there are no records. This is outrageous. If one was a member of a residents' association and one of one's officers went off and had meetings and there were no records of them, there would be outrage among the community. There was a call this morning to bring the Minister in here. I believe it is time to bring the chief executive of Ireland to this House to explain and put clearly on the record what has taken place regarding these private meetings because I have no doubt that at some stage in the future, we will find this country in front of the courts explaining some verbal agreement made at these meetings. It is simply not good enough.

Have we learned nothing in this country? To have private meetings between the supplier of a service and a Minister is simply not good enough. I am sorry for standing on my feet and calling this into question but I have received phone calls from friends and relations. It is all over social media. People talk about the demonstration on Saturday. I had never attended a demonstration until the water issue arose. I go there because I am interested in what people have to say. I meet ordinary decent working people. It is not about water in many cases. It is about their total frustration with the way the world has gone. I am calling for a debate with the Taoiseach so we can put on the record of this House exactly what took place between the then Minister and the chairman of Bord Gáis Éireann.