Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

The first three of my four questions out of the six relate to parliamentary questions and it is logical that they come together. I am not interested in the groupings; I am more concerned about the nature of the replies we receive here.

I asked in Question No. 1 if the Taoiseach would give a specific list of public affairs connected to his Department and matters of administration for which he is officially responsible. I asked him that question because it is an exact take from Standing Orders on questions to the Taoiseach. The Taoiseach refused to give any specific list on what he is prepared to answer for in the House. Despite all the talk of reform from the Taoiseach, we are in reality witnessing significant steps backwards, even in the reforms coming before us. The Taoiseach has never asked me about Taoiseach's questions; he said that repeatedly for four months in the House but he has never made a single proposal on the conduct of Taoiseach's questions. All that happened in terms of Dáil reform is that the Government Chief Whip met our Whip and said he proposed to give a half hour less time for Taoiseach's questions and that the Taoiseach did not want to answer questions on a Wednesday.

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