Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 15, inclusive, together.

Although the titles of the Cabinet committees dealing with social inclusion issues have changed slightly, there have been 16 meetings of the Cabinet committee responsible for this area in the past three years, most recently in February 2008.

To date, the Cabinet committee on climate change and energy security has met on two occasions since the Government was formed and I attended both meetings. The cross-departmental team on housing, infrastructure and PPPs last met on 1 July 2008 and the date of its next meeting is not yet confirmed. The role of the cross-departmental team is to assist in progressing and resolving issues related to infrastructure planning and delivery, ensuring that they are adequately prepared for consideration by the Cabinet committee on housing, infrastructure and PPPs and, where necessary, by the Government.

Questions about the business conducted at Cabinet committee or cross-departmental team meetings have never been allowed in the House on the grounds that they are internal to Government. Questions about the topics of housing, infrastructure, PPPs and so on should be directed to the responsible Minister.

See this speech in context