I propose to take Questions Nos. 242, 247, 252, 253, 255 and 256 together.
During my statement to the House on 12 November, I put on the record, with the permission of Judge Lynch, his letter to me of 2 July, his undated letter of 10 October 1996 and his letter of 11 November, 1996.
With regard to the correspondence I received from the Attorney General the position is that the Attorney General's letter of 2 October was published in the report of the inquiry which I established to investigate this matter. The Attorney General's letter of 1 November contains legal advice and, as I informed this House on 21 November, senior counsel retained by the State to deal with applications currently before the courts has advised that privilege be claimed in respect of this letter. I am not therefore in a position to make it available to the Deputy.
The only other correspondence which issued in this matter were the letters which issued on 7 November informing Judge Lynch, the President of the Circuit Court and the Special Criminal Court Registrar of the Government decision of 1 August 1996 to terminate the appointment of Judge Lynch as a member of the Special Criminal Court.
I also acknowledged receipt of the Attorney General's letter dated 1 November.