Where we are at now-----

The Deputy will have to take this matter up with the House. He cannot debate it here.

In accordance with Standing Order 80(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time next week.

I thank Deputy Carthy. That was my job.

This division is deferred until next week's weekly division time. We need to suspend for a short while until the Minister of State arrives. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I wish to discuss the purpose for which the firearms expert committee was set up, why it was established and what were the wide-ranging matters relating to firearms on which the Minister of State needed advice. It is not long since I asked him a series of questions related to the firearms expert committee, which were mainly based on the serious concerns brought to me by members of gun-related organisations. These primarily included firearms holders and those who wish to engage in recreational hunting and shooting p…

I am sorry but the Minister of State has failed to address any of the questions contained within. He knows well that the only person who could have been regarded an expert resigned from that committee with the damning statement that he believed the committee was a farce. I do not know how the Minister of State, in an advisory capacity, can then use reports on foot of the only expert on that committee telling him that what was going on was a farce. The Minister of State knows perfectly well and does not need me to o…

Why did he move away from the model?

I am not shouting you down. I am asking-----

Can we go back to the 2004 model?

That was not my statement.

Can we go back to the 2004 model?

Some eight months ago, in November, a freak tornado swept through south County Wexford, in particular in areas like Clongeen and Foulkesmill, leaving a trail of pure and utter devastation. To date, the people affected by this event have been lied to by local Fianna Fáil councillors, continually fobbed off and passed from one Minister to the next with no sight of any meaningful compensation or plan for same. Last week, a freak summer hailstorm caused havoc in Enniscorthy. Within minutes there were scenes of flooding…

I am sharing time with Deputy Shanahan. The last two weeks have been catastrophic, not only for RTÉ but for its staff and the public seeing the demise of our independent public broadcaster. We heard of a scheme designed to cover up payments to the presenter Ryan Tubridy, that if revealed, would contradict the fact that he was supposed to have taken an 11% pay cut. Thereafter the existing chair of the board proclaimed that it was a scheme designed to deceive. Ryan Tubridy may well have been a symptom of the problem …

Let the Minister speak.

I call Deputy Bríd Smith.

Deputies, please.

The next slot is about to be taken by Deputy McNamara, who is making his way into Chamber.

Minister, please, a bit of respect.

I have to say that such allegations need to be explained.