Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Taoiseach read out a long list of venues at which Cabinet meetings have been held. Has he carried out an analysis of the impact of the meetings? From an examination of interviews on local radio stations and in local newspapers, the meetings seem to be convoys of camaraderie to different locations. The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism might give a few cheques to the local sports club or visit a football club to tell it to submit its application. I recall the case of Ballaghaderreen when the convoy went into the west. Most of the promises made by the litany of benign Ministers did not achieve much, but I understand the necessity for the Taoiseach to consider this matter important.

Has the Taoiseach planned Cabinet meetings outside Dublin for next year or has he stopped at a particular point on the calendar because of a realisation that he may not be able to plan beyond it? Will he consider holding a Cabinet meeting in Lucan at 8.30 a.m. and have Ministers travel from the Ballyowen roundabout into some of the local estates to see what people must put up with? Will the Taoiseach hold the meeting in Firhouse in Deputy Rabbitte's constituency where I was last night? In some areas, the only bus service is at 7.15 a.m. while other locations have no bus services.

While it is nice and important for the black convoy to speed through the countryside to get to where the people are, perhaps the Taoiseach should focus more on the reality of what people must live with. It might be of practical importance to the members of the Cabinet who stare out benignly from their leather seats——

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