Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I will persist as long as my question remains unanswered. This is the only means by which I can hope to obtain an answer. This issue was never mentioned as part of the agenda of Dáil reform. It relates to a practice now established by Ministers whereby, on a creeping basis, they have resiled from their responsibility to answer Opposition questions in the House. I see the Minister of State, Deputy Dick Roche, is smiling. It is not a smiling matter.

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