Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together.

The Government has formally agreed to the establishment of a Cabinet committee on health. The members of the committee will be the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Minister and Minister of State at the Department of Health, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and I. Other Ministers, Ministers of State and the Attorney General may attend as required.

A group of senior officials drawn from the relevant Departments, co-ordinated and chaired by my Department, will support the work of the committee. The committee will determine its own work programme and working arrangements. I anticipate that it will hold its first meeting in the coming weeks.

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