Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Very well.

As for the debate regarding the Schengen Agreement, the e-borders scheme obviously will bring changes. Many of the difficulties involved were legally based. While I am uncertain whether we can simply change it based on the law, we will have a discussion in this regard when it comes back.

The legislation committee is a highly important committee and the Government Whip is the key person in this regard. It involves the Parliamentary Counsel and is important in shaping forthcoming legislation, as well as legislation at its various stages. The Government decides what is possible based on the Whip's report. Moreover, if difficulties arise and it is deemed necessary, relevant Ministers can be asked to attend by the Minister of State. This is an important committee and the greatly increased volume of legislation being processed in this House recently as against what used to happen years ago has much to do with its effective functioning.

I refer to the question regarding the responsibilities of the Minister of State, Deputy Roche. As for all the European agenda issues, while he has no separate delegation in respect of my Department, all the co-ordination of the European brief with the Department of Foreign Affairs and other Departments is performed by the Minister of State, Deputy Roche. He also stands in for the Minister for Foreign Affairs on a number of committees.

Although officials from various Departments deal with the issues for the Ministers of State, their staffing is in the main Department only. Obviously, the Minister of State has access to officials in both Departments, but his office is staffed only by officials from my Department.

See this speech in context