Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy has raised a number of points. The Government is anxious to set up the committees and to get them going. Not many changes have been proposed. I understand that two or three changes have been suggested, on which I hope agreement can be reached, and the Government Whip was endeavouring to do so today. Most of the other committees will remain intact.

The representation of parties in the Dáil will be reflected in the committees. While this happens automatically, it has always been the practice that the committees of the House are chaired by the Government side, with the exception of those that are considered to be what were termed many decades ago as being watchdog committees, such as the Committee of Public Accounts. Similarly, the committee on European Affairs was established to oversee the enormous volume of directives and data that have been coming through from Europe. Arguments have also been made regarding some other committees. However, for the Government to get through its business and move legislation and issues through, while representation will reflect the membership of the House, it is important that such committees should be chaired by supporters of the Government.

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