Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Will the Taoiseach tell us the terms of reference, if any, for the Cabinet committee on children? Does the committee deal with the issue of child care? Has the Taoiseach put before that committee the report of the National Economic and Social Forum on child care and early childhood education? Will the Taoiseach ask the Cabinet committee on children to consider the need for child care and early childhood education to be the special preserve of a single ministry in the future? Will the committee consider such a proposal rather than the current situation whereby issues relating to children are scattered across a raft of different Departments?

When Members ask questions relating to the Cabinet committee on social inclusion and drugs they are often referred to the line Minister. Will the Taoiseach clarify whether the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is a member of the committee on social inclusion and drugs? If the Minister is a member of that committee he should accord Members of this House the courtesy of a response when questions are put to him on the specific area of drug abuse, rather than resorting to the diatribe of abuse he directs at my Sinn Féin colleagues.

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