Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I was not going to come in on this section. However, with all due respect to the Minister of State, I think there are questions that have come to light. The last time we were having this conversation, I accepted that Departments will seek outside expertise. That happens in lots of Departments. Many organisations will hire consultants who have the expertise that is not in-house.

What I am seeming to hear today, however, is that the Minister of State will not confirm that it was in-house or, if it was not in-house, which consultant it was. There is nothing commercially sensitive in saying we used this consultant who has this expertise. It would be for the benefit of everyone if we could just know who gave the aviation expertise.

I do not think there is anything wrong in seeking expertise if it is not there in-house. However, we deserve to know who provided it. Saying the Attorney General drafted the legislation, with all due respect to the Office of the Attorney General, they are legal experts and will draft legal documentation but they do not have the aviation expertise. Somebody had to be feeding aviation expertise into this Bill and it is important that we know who that was.