Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

However, where it is necessary it can form part of the legislation. The important issue that arises here is that the general principle of governance applies where in the event of people working for Government, the Government sets the policy and people implement and operate the policy. That is a basic principle that is often stated. If there are, for reasons of commercial sensitivity, issues arising particularly in terms of how Government policy is understood externally or outside the country, that coherence of approach is certainly important to establish.

I made the response to the Deputy previously that we were going down the legislative route in regard to one of the reports on the children issue. It is best if specific questions are asked. I do not have full information on all of that detail apart from what I can recall from memory in many respects. I will try to correlate some of the information I have here if it is of any relevance but the questions relate to the legislative programme in my Department specifically. If there are questions about the legislative programme generally it is best to address them to the line Department, certainly in regard to getting accurate answers to parliamentary questions.

The other question raised by the Deputy was the referendum issue. Again, that is a matter that can be considered by the Government at any time but a direct question to the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs would elicit the accurate answers.

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