Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I will not repeat what I said earlier. I apologise, through the Chair, for having failed to note that the grouping did not include Parliamentary Question No. 5. I thought it would have done. In any event, the critical focus is that there was a request made of the Taoiseach going back to last June and in the context of the statistics regarding child deaths in care under the stewardship of the Health Service Executive in order to secure full disclosure and accountability which we were all arguing for at the time. I understand section 25 does give this power to the Taoiseach of the day under the Statistics Act 1993. We already know the power was not exercised during the period including last June, but was consideration given to the particular proposition and if not, why not? Will the Minister of State clarify whether the power has been exercised in a number of instances that will be included in the full reply?

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