Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

The job of the Opposition Whip is also not easy. Members on this side of the House recognise the problems. It is not in the interests of Government to protect itself and to remain aloof or withdraw into a shell-like cocoon and refuse to answer questions which concern the House. It may well be that it postpones the answer.

My final point concerns the fact that a simple parliamentary question would require Sherlock Holmes to find its answer because, without doubt, it would be buried in the middle of the reply. It has become common practice over the years to withhold information for as long as possible from as many as possible in the hope that when it is eventually divulged, nobody will notice. That is a sad fact which I hope the Minister of State will address. I know that she sincerely believes in meaningful parliamentary reform, and such reform needs to be meaningful if we are to address the issues which confront us in society at present.

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