Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 10, inclusive, together.

I sit on the following Cabinet committees - European Affairs; Climate Change and Energy Security; Science, Technology and Innovation; Social Inclusion, Children and Integration; Health; Irish and the Gaeltacht; Economic Renewal; and Transforming Public Services.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Renewal has met six times since its establishment, most recently on 1 April 2009. The date of its next meeting has been scheduled for 13 May next.

The Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion, Children and Integration, which last met on 26 November 2008, covers an area which has seen considerable structural development aimed at enhancing co-operation across Departments. Consequently, much of the focus of joint work in the area of social policy and strategy is now comprehended in the daily operations of the integrated Offices for Children and Youth Affairs; Older Persons; Mental Health and Disability; and Integration. In addition, part of the considerations of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Renewal, relating to activation for employment purposes through training, upskilling and further education, is relevant to the social inclusion area. The next meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion, Children and Integration is provisionally scheduled for 20 May next.

The next meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Irish and the Gaeltacht has been provisionally set for 21 May 2009.

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