Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

As chairman of the legislative committee, to the best of his ability the Minister of State keeps a close handle on legislation in the Parliamentary Counsel's office going through the various processes between Departments and deals with points raised in the House to the best of his ability. We do not discuss this on a weekly basis. At the start of each session we decide what the legislation will be on the A list, as well as other lists, during that session. We keep account of progress in Cabinet meetings as time goes on, not every week, but perhaps once a month, on average.

Pairing arrangements are the norm in all the Parliaments I have ever had dealings with. The practice is that where members of the Executive are absent on official business, they are paired. Where someone is ill or hospitalised etc., the Chief Whip and the Whips of the parliament concerned will try to deal with the situation to the best of their ability, and the Dáil is no exception.

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