Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

That is what is in the reform programme. It is less than the position was previously.

It is absolutely unacceptable that the Taoiseach came in here this morning and tried to bluff his way through by saying I should ask the question differently. When I gave the Taoiseach concrete examples of the questions I had tabled and that the Taoiseach had transferred, he had no answer. It is completely unacceptable that the Taoiseach would not answer a question on his role in preparing for the EU Presidency in 2013. It is absolutely unacceptable he would transfer questions to him about his contacts with other Heads of State to the Minister for Finance. It is absolutely unacceptable for the Taoiseach to transfer questions about his contacts with Northern Ireland leaders to other Ministers.

On the tribunals, where the Oireachtas is involved in an issue of collective responsibility, it is also unacceptable for the Taoiseach to dodge questions put to him. That is the Taoiseach's track record. It is noticeable that the Taoiseach is breaking with precedent in the questions he is transferring and that he is trying to avoid answering hard questions. The Taoiseach's political advisors have a definitive strategy of transferring all controversial question to other Government Departments. That is unacceptable and undermines the Taoiseach's accountability to this House for matters for which he is accountable under Standing Orders.

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