Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The best way of getting up-to-date information on individual aspects of the programme for Government is through the line Ministers who have primary responsibility for driving them. I say this as a general remark because there is no point in using Taoiseach's Questions as a means of covering all these areas in a compendium fashion.

In regard to the carbon tax, schemes are in place from October to April in respect of deviating measures to assist people with their fuel needs. I understand that will be the system under which we will operate alleviating measures for the tax. On the fuel poverty plan, a direct question to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources will ascertain the up-to-date position. Work is ongoing in regard to the electoral commission in the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. A timeframe has not been put on this commitment but we are working through the issues arising.

I recommend that to get accurate information in response to parliamentary questions, which is the purpose of Question Time, it is best to seek the required level of detail from the responsible line Ministers.

See this speech in context