Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I do not know why some of them are automatically referred. Obviously, it depends on the nature of the question. I am quite happy to answer questions in respect of Northern Ireland and my responsibilities in that regard.

On the individual programmes of the two parties before the Government was formed, the Deputy is aware that each one had its own view. Obviously, the programme for Government is what we operate from.

As I said, 18 staff of the EU division and their functions were transferred from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to the Department of the Taoiseach. I discussed this at the very beginning. The point made was that if one wants real co-ordination on an issue that now crosses all Departments, given we have a changed situation in so far as Europe is concerned as well as the impending Presidency, one is better to have it co-ordinated and overseen by the Department of the Taoiseach. While senior civil servants are needed from other Departments - I say this with the greatest of respect to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - it is much easier and has greater strength to have it coming from the Department of the Taoiseach, where it is guaranteed that senior personnel will be appointed to the issues of the day, as it were.

In that sense, that suggestion was made to me from personnel within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade itself. From my experience, the appointment of the second Secretary General dealing with the European issues has brought a cohesion and a co-ordination that is very real and responsive. Where issues arise of European significance and where civil and public servants from other Departments are required to be in attendance, there is always a full response to that because it is coming from the Office of the Taoiseach itself, not just from myself as the person who occupies that office. The impact of it has been very real, in my view, and very responsive in the interests of getting the job done more efficiently and more quickly. I certainly cannot fault the way it is now operating.

I do not know about the Deputy's comment on setting up another section in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Presumably, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade has a number of people there in so far as the foreign affairs end of matters is concerned in order to be able to co-ordinate with the Second Secretary General dealing with European affairs in my Department.

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