Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 6, inclusive, together.

The programme for Government sets out the Government's priorities and my statement to the House on 9 March nominating Ministers and setting out the restructuring of Departments reflected these priorities. The programme was adopted by the Government at its first meeting as the framework for its policy over the coming years.

Ministers of State are appointed by the Government. When I announced these appointments in the House, I set out the Departments and areas of responsibility to which the Ministers of State were being assigned. Ministers and Ministers of State will be working together to progress those actions and initiatives that fall within their Departments' area of responsibility in order to achieve the implementation of the programme for Government.

The Government is a collective authority. The work of Ministers of State is of course co-ordinated through the operation of Government. I intend to meet Ministers of State on a regular basis to discuss progress on implementing the programme.

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