Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The fact is that we did away with many of the inefficiencies. If a meeting is being held across Departments we do not need to pull people out of those Departments. Most businesses now use technology to do that on a daily basis, whether it is a meeting on-site or to talk to people in their offices in London, Chicago or wherever. It is normal practice in the world. It is not like the Cabinet meeting which is done collectively and is collectively responsible, but if an assistant secretary wants to talk to another assistant secretary, it is not necessary to meet in one location. We should try not to think in old-fashioned ways that have more to do with gombeen days.

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