This is a parliamentary democracy and there are times when the Taoiseach shows scant regard for that basic fact. What he just said is incredible. This is a work in progress but the Dáil is the last place to know about it. It seems that events have been choreographed to prevent the Dáil from having any meaningful debate on Brexit preparedness, particularly in the context of a hard Brexit. That is scandalous and it is disgraceful treatment of the Dáil. The paper given to the Cabinet meeting this evening should be sent to Deputies. Does the Taoiseach have any respect for Parliament? Tomorrow's meeting is not a parliamentary forum and the Dáil will not be sitting at that point in January. There is talk about emergency legislation being required and the Taoiseach does not even have the basic courtesy to give us a detailed paper on what that might entail. What is the big deal? Why the secrecy? Is it about controlling the message? Talking about the European Commission is nonsense.

There is no secrecy.

There is.

The Tánaiste is not involved in Leaders' Questions.

This is Dáil Éireann. The Dáil is scheduled to sit until 11.30 p.m this evening. There is no reason this material cannot be given to Deputies before close of business this evening. It is a matter of basic respect for the House, the Parliament and the institutions of our parliamentary democracy. That is what it is about. The Taoiseach should stop treating people in here with disrespect. The Dáil has been consistently fair to the Government on Brexit and deserves a bit of reciprocal respect in terms of very basic matters pertaining to Brexit. It cannot always be about the Government wanting to control the message.

This is about sequencing. It is not about secrecy. The European Commission will produce its papers today and we will have a paper this evening. It is a paper I have not seen yet because it is not yet finished precisely because we must have the European Commission paper first. I hope or expect to get it between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. today. Once I have read it and shared it with Cabinet, I have no difficulty making it available to Members of the House tonight but it is not ready yet. There is no secrecy here. There is a sequence at play and the European Commission must be allowed to produce its papers. It will do so today and we will produce our paper this evening. Assuming it is ready this evening and I get a chance to read it, I will be very happy for it to be sent to all Deputies tonight.

Of course it will be ready this evening.

It is not ready yet.