Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The Cabinet committee on climate change and energy security has met on three occasions since September 2007. The committee last met on 23 January 2008 and will meet again next month.

The Deputy will be aware I have outlined to the House now on a number of occasions that Cabinet committees are an integral part of the Cabinet process. Questions as to the business conducted at Cabinet or Cabinet committee meetings have never been allowed in the House on the grounds that they are internal to Government. The reasons for this approach are founded on sound policy principles and the need to avoid infringing the constitutional protection of Cabinet confidentiality. As always, questions on particular policy issues should be put down to the relevant Ministers.

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