Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 994: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of written Parliamentary Questions replied to from 1 January 2012 to 31 March 2012; the number of these that were answered in full; the number that related to issues where details supplied were personal matters and where the reply was supplied directly to the Deputy; the number of other replies where it was indicted that the information requested would be sent directly to the Deputy concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18600/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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During the period in question, I replied to approximately 1,200 Written and Oral questions submitted by my colleagues in Dail Eireann. The Deputy will appreciate that, given the remit of my Department, the nature of these questions can often involve matters of a complex legal, statistical or personal nature.

On occasion, it is not possible to provide the information requested immediately as detailed reports must first be obtained to ensure the replies I give to the Deputy, and the House, are accurate. When these reports are to hand, I write directly to the Deputy concerned and convey the information to them. I regret that I cannot detail the number of Parliamentary Questions where the details supplied in the questions related to personal matters. Extracting this information would require a manual examination of all 1,200 Questions asked. I am sure the Deputy will agree that this would involve a disproportionate expenditure of staff time and resources.