Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I would very much regret it were there any comments from within Cabinet. The Deputy is well aware that the confidentiality of discussions at Cabinet and Cabinet sub-committees is protected by Article 28.4.3o of the Constitution, which states:

The confidentiality of discussions at meetings of the Government shall be respected in all circumstances save only where the High Court determines that disclosure should be made in respect of a particular matter -

i in the interests of the administration of justice by a Court, or

ii by virtue of an overriding public interest, pursuant to an application in that behalf by a tribunal appointed by the Government or a Minister of the Government on the authority of the Houses of the Oireachtas to inquire into a matter stated by them to be of public importance.

The Deputy is aware that is the situation in so far as the Constitution is concerned with regard to speaking in respect of Cabinet committees. However, that is not to say that the general discussions we can have here in a changed situation in the House cannot refer to the broader issues rather than the actual work of the Cabinet committees.

I will send the Deputy a list of the Cabinet committees that were authorised and will provide for the information of the House. The work of those committees can be discussed in general in discussions in the Dáil. However, as the Deputy is aware from experience at Cabinet committees, members are bound by the Constitution on confidentiality from talking about the actual issues discussed.

See this speech in context