Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I will tell the Deputy why. The Economic Management Council is attended by myself and the Tánaiste, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. It is backed up by Secretaries General from appropriate Departments and senior officials from Departments depending on the issues that are under discussion. It is a very effective way of streamlining business to bring to the Cabinet, where decisions are then made. These decisions obviously become public and the Deputy has an opportunity to debate them arising from opportunities in the Dáil and elsewhere.

Rather than have interminably long Cabinet meetings discuss everything, the Economic Management Council, the agenda of which is determined by the Tánaiste and which is now supported by the appointment of a second Secretary General, streamlines the work on very important issues that are then brought before the Cabinet.

For instance, if the Economic Management Council decides on an issue, its decision goes to the Cabinet for approval. If approved it becomes a Cabinet decision and once that is made public, the Deputy is entitled to ask questions about it, comment on it and debate it in the House. I hope that clarifies what we are doing in that room.

See this speech in context