Lynn Ruane (Independent)
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Unfortunately, I am going to withdraw my Commencement matter. I have huge respect for the function of this House that is Commencement matters, which is why I do not table Commencement matters every week asking Ministers to come before the House. This Commencement matter does not, with all due respect, fall under the brief of the Minister of State, Deputy Browne. To have a Minister respond on behalf of another, to me, makes the engagement extremely dishonest and inauthentic. The Minister of State has no idea what I am going to say in my four minutes or in my two-minute supplementary contribution and will come in with a script that has been pre-written. The engagement is therefore not real and feels too much like theatre to me. I would much rather re-table my Commencement matter when the Minister can have the integrity to respect the functions of this House and the one opportunity we get, through Commencement matters, to engage with Departments that look after the briefs in respect of which we ask Ministers to come before the House. I therefore withdraw my Commencement matter.