David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I think we are now in a rather serious situation because Senator McDowell, who, as I know to my benefit, is a very professional, very highly regarded member of the Irish Bar, practising at the moment, a former Attorney General, former Minister for Justice and Equality, and former Tánaiste, is telling this House that this section is unconstitutional and he is clearly demonstrating the reasons. That should make the Minister pause and consider these matters.

I do not have too much to say about this but what happened to those well-known phrases that used to be trotted out some years ago about politics: openness, transparency and accountability? There is not very much openness, transparency and accountability about this Bill. It seems quite extraordinary that information germane to the decision-making process should be withheld from Government. Can anybody explain that to me? Surely to God the greater harvest of information it has about making a decision, the better. We are now hiving off this process to this commission, which will have no legal people on it. It will have this, that and the other, all kinds of operatives, doodahs, who-dahs, whatnots, consultants, hairpins and God alone knows what-----