Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

It is 23 years since I was Chief Whip so I can hardly remember how the system works. It is meant to work in such a way that Ministers and Ministers of State on official business can seek pairs. The Chief Whip deals with Opposition Whips to arrange those pairs so thatthe Ministers and Ministers of State can continue to engage in official business on behalf of the Government. From time to time, other pairs are sparingly allowed on the basis of illnesses or special or family occasions that Members wish to attend. That is how the system operates.

As the Deputy will appreciate, Dáil reform is the responsibility of the House and, more specifically, of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges and the sub-committee on Dáil reform. I assure the Deputy that the Government, through the Chief Whip, will always engage constructively in this regard. The Chief Whip brought forward a scheme to make the work of the committee system in the House more accessible, including by using the Internet to make available the workings and decisions of committees. This is due to be operational in the new year.

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