Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

On 18 October 2005, in responding to similar questions, the Taoiseach stated each of his political advisers "liaises with a number of Departments and acts as a point of contact in my office for Ministers and their advisers. My advisers attend meetings of Cabinet committees and cross-departmental teams relevant to their responsibilities". Today he indicated some of those within his Department who have roles in this regard. Which of his advisers liaises with the Department of Health and Children? Does that same party liaise with the chief executive of the Health Service Executive, Professor Brendan Drumm? How often does the Taoiseach receive briefings from his adviser on health matters? Are those briefings follow-ons to engagements with the Minister for Health and Children, her Department and the chief executive of the HSE? Is the liaison between the Taoiseach's Department and the Department of Health and Children, or the respective offices of the Taoiseach and the Minister, everything it should be? Is the Taoiseach fully conversant with the detail of the shambles of our health system in the pursuit of the delivery of health care by his Minister, her Department and the HSE? In the light of that, will the Taoiseach revisit the matter of co-ordination? What role will the Taoiseach's advisers play in helping to ensure he has a clear and full understanding of what is being done in his name, as premier Minister and that of Government, in collective responsibility with the Minister for Health and Children, in respect of health care provision in this State?

Do political advisers or, perhaps, the Minister for Transport and the Marine, Deputy Dempsey, assist or advise the Taoiseach in the preparation of scripts and various articles submitted by him for publication in what I can only describe as his now regular appearance in the Sunday Independent?

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