Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

The issue of parliamentary questions when the Dáil is not sitting has emerged during our discussions. An aspect we will have to consider is the position of staff. As the Deputy knows, I am open to considering the issue of parliamentary questions, written questions in particular. The issue of questions to agencies, such as the National Roads Authority and the Health Service Executive, has been raised by many of the Deputy's colleagues and Deputies from other parties. There are valid concerns among all parliamentarians with regard to access to speedy replies from those agencies. The item is very much on our agenda for discussion and is one of the four or five key items to which I referred.

Both issues, that of parliamentary questions, particularly when the Dáil is not sitting, and that of agencies, are on the agenda, although we have not made progress on the latter yet. To be frank, coming to these discussions as Chief Whip, I would have to revert to my ministerial colleagues on some of these issues. That is the current status of the discussions. As Chief Whip, I agree there are issues that need to be addressed.

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