Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 10, inclusive, together.

The Cabinet committee on social inclusion and children last met on 11 October 2006. The Cabinet committee will have its next meeting on 15 November 2006, with a further meeting scheduled in December. As I have outlined to the House on a number of occasions, Cabinet committees are an integral part of the Cabinet process. Questions as to the business conducted at Cabinet or Cabinet committee meetings have never been allowed in the House on the grounds that they are internal to Government. The reasons for this approach are founded on sound policy principles and the need to avoid infringing the constitutional protection of Cabinet confidentiality.

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