Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is a member of that committee, which deals with all social inclusion issues across a range of Departments. Obviously, child care and related issues are discussed at that committee. As I said in reply to Deputy Rabbitte, children's issues are being dealt with by the National Children's Office. As is obvious from recent issues, the equal opportunity programmes involve both the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Department of Health and Children. Cabinet committees operate on the basis of achieving interdepartmental co-operation on matters that are not specific to any one Department.

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