Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

One asks about the Taoiseach's plans to make the Department accountable to the Houses and I welcome the information he has provided in this respect. The second, which I will address in a moment or two, is on a different issue. It is impossible for me to cram it all in and for the Taoiseach to give me and, therefore, the Oireachtas the information we request.

Regarding the first question, there is frustration with the manner in which some questions are being lumped together. Some of my questions have been disallowed or transferred to other Departments. For example, they related to the Taoiseach's contacts with the social partners, 14-17 Moore Street, his efforts to secure a reduction in the bailout interest rate and the work of Cabinet sub-committees. The latter issue is frustrating, given how Cabinet confidentiality is wrapped around it. We cannot get information about the economic management council. I have also asked about the Taoiseach's work in preparing for trade missions and his contacts with the British Prime Minister on issues such as Sellafield. On some issues he has committed to reverting with answers, but I was not allowed to ask him about those when I tabled this question.

We must find a mechanism to allow more discourse and more light to be shone on matters. Tá a fhios ag an Taoiseach i rith fheachtas an toghcháin, bhí an Taoiseach a rá go bhfuil sé an-mhacánta faoi rudaí mar sin agus go ndéanfaidh sé rudaí i slí difriúil. Could we just discuss this matter for a moment or two? The Taoiseach was a long time in opposition. With respect, it is not good enough to tell us that we are asking the wrong questions or tabling them in the wrong way. Nor is it correct to claim that he is answering all of the questions. He may have given answers, but there is a difference between that and answering questions.

I will not make an issue out of another matter, namely, how the Taoiseach was not present during the last Questions to the Taoiseach. He is fully entitled to delegate to another member of the Government, but there was not even an explanation for his absence. I did not receive satisfactory answers to my questions.

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