Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I will help the Deputy now. I already answered that question. The Cabinet sub-committee on health met on three occasions. As I chaired each of the meetings, the Deputy can assume I attended the meetings. I hope that is clear now.

There are differences between these committees. One is an interdepartmental committee comprising public servants from all Departments, including the Offices of the Attorney General and Parliamentary Counsel. The other is a Cabinet sub-committee, which I chair as Taoiseach and which comprises Ministers and public servants from various Departments. That sub-committee is entitled to call before it whatever persons it so wishes in respect of the matters it is dealing with.

These are two very different committees. The interdepartmental committee, which is chaired by the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach with responsibility for European affairs, deals with the range of matters I have outlined. The Cabinet sub-committee is a constitutional sub-committee of the Cabinet and it deals with issues that can be recommended for acceptance by the Cabinet in full session.

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