Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The EMC met 55 times. It has a real work programme. The membership comprises myself, the Tánaiste, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The council is served by civil and public servants, as is appropriate. I have no interest in allegations or assertions as to who said what in anonymous reports in newspapers. The Ministers attend Cabinet sub-committees as required. As I said to Deputy McDonald, the value of this from my perspective is that once a strategy or pathway is laid out for whatever action or economic matter is being considered, there is a time line included and Ministers and Departments are expected to respond, which they do. The public service responds very well to clarity of requirement or decision and the time in which it must be done.

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