Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

As I stated previously in respect of issues such as disability, health, the fair deal scheme and the national drugs strategy, the social policy unit has played a role in this regard. It ensures the views of the Department of the Taoiseach are inputted into all the aforementioned areas. Basically, that co-ordinating role, using the authority of the Department of the Taoiseach is its function. Policy regarding social and family affairs or health and children is dealt with by the relevant line Minister. However, the job of the social policy unit of the Department of the Taoiseach is to advise the Taoiseach on all these issues as they arise and to use its office and position as a means of bringing together a whole of Government approach, where necessary, in the event of initiatives being taken in a particular area.

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