Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The position is well known to the Deputy from his experience over the years. The confidentiality of discussions at Cabinet and Cabinet committees is protected by Article 20.4.3°. In light of that, those matters that are discussed there are subject to Cabinet confidentiality. In reality if decisions are taken by the economic management council, they go forward to Government and become Government decisions if they are adopted by the Cabinet and are then available for discussion and question. It is a way of streamlining the activity of Government and Cabinet.

From my perspective, as Taoiseach, I have found that many Cabinet committees were only required to meet once a quarter. I have a very different view about this. I see part of my job being to drive the agenda through the committees to get results and get decisions through by Government, which is what is important. The function of the interdepartmental co-ordinating committee on European affairs, chaired by the Minister of State, Deputy Creighton, is to make arrangements of Ireland's Presidency of the Union for the first half of 2013.

The Deputy will be aware of the changed nature of the role of political leaders arising from the Lisbon treaty whereby Mr. Van Rompuy has a new function in driving the agenda. The nature of the role of European Union leaders has changed in respect of the onus on them during a Presidency. That is not to diminish in any way the decisions that need to be taken or whatever else. The Minister of State, Deputy Creighton, is now chairing the committee in preparation for the 2013 Presidency. The co-ordination of European activities is conducted by the second Secretary General in the Department of the Taoiseach. In so far as the duties and responsibility of the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade are concerned, on European affairs or on a General Affairs Council, she reports to him and conducts the management of the economic management committee. The co-ordination of European issues is also under her control but in the Department of the Taoiseach - in other words, to get a better impact from all the Departments associated with this. From my perspective, it functions very well in that there is a more closely knit group in terms of how one looks at European issues, approaches and get the best impact from all Departments' senior officials and Ministers involved in whatever European issue might be under discussion.

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