Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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On the lead agency issue, has Mr. Silke met directly the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, or has he made submissions to OPW on how that lead agency should be formed and the kind of role and functions it would have? A significant function a lead agency should have would be the discretion to instruct an organisation to do something and have certain jurisdiction over other bodies, not merely expect them or ask them politely not to do something or to do something. In some cases, as in the situation as it pertains, it might be the ability to tell them not to do something or to cease a practice that is contributing to the difficulty. Can Mr. Silke elaborate on that suggestion of a lead agency? I accept there is a lack of progress but what efforts have been made directly with the OPW to bring that about?