Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Taoiseach has touched on a relevant point. Public perception of these issues is important. If a senior civil servant is asked to go to a political party meeting to give a briefing, the public reaction is that the public servant is in with the party to whom he or she is giving the briefing. Perhaps it might be more appropriate if the public service were to announce a briefing on a Bill or section in the briefing room in Leinster House 2000 for Members of the Oireachtas during a set period. Then members of the Taoiseach's or my political party could go to such a briefing, which is very different from members of one political party being addressed by a public servant. In terms of providing good information and a proper briefing, it might be helpful but there is a distinction drawn in the public mind between the Minister asking a public servant to go to a party political meeting as opposed to giving a briefing to Members of the Oireachtas, of all parties and none.

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