Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

-----been about manipulation of the message emanating from here that somehow we are sitting for longer days and that we are sitting longer than previous Dáileanna. That is all it is about. In fairness, the Opposition has stood up to the plate and the various Opposition parties have introduced legislation. Our party is very anxious to revisit this matter to ensure that if there is a Friday sitting once a month, it should be the same as any other sitting on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

When will the second phase of reform commence? When will the Minister of State bring proposals to other political parties on that? The replies to topical issues are supposed to be given by the Minister or Minister of State from the Department responsible for the issue raised. The Government is already failing in that commitment. Recently the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, responded to a topical issue on fraud prevention even though she has no connection with that topic. In the same week the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs, Deputy Creighton, responded to a topical issue on NAMA. Does the Minister of State accept that is not in accordance with what he outlined?

The Taoiseach now spends less time dealing with Taoiseach's Questions than his predecessors - he now answers such questions once a week as opposed to twice a week. In many areas under his portfolio we are prevented from asking questions because they relate to the particular Cabinet committee on economic affairs and the invocation of Cabinet confidentiality precludes us from asking questions on economic stewardship by the Taoiseach regarding the Cabinet.

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