Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I do not accept Deputy Varadkar's simplistic contention that reducing agencies per se is the solution to the problem. In social partnership we have committed to putting the citizens at the centre and reconstructing how we deliver services on the basis of the life cycle approach set out. We are committed to doing that and must get on with the task. I will set up a task force to report to me before the end of the summer to decide how to proceed with an implementation programme arising from the OECD report and to do so in the context of social partnership, in which I believe.

Regarding the number of Ministers of State, we are in government and providing these services. We have cross-cutting responsibilities that are working well. It is an innovation of the previous Administration that works well in terms of the of the Office of the Minister for Children, how we deal with elderly people and integration.

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