Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 23, inclusive, together.

The Government established the following Cabinet committees, all of which I chair: economic recovery and jobs; social policy; climate change and the green economy; European affairs; economic infrastructure; Irish and the Gaeltacht; public service reform; health; and mortgage arrears.

Since January I have chaired 26 committee meetings. In January, I chaired meetings of the committees on economic recovery and jobs and European affairs; in February, the committee on health; in March, the committees on European affairs, public service reform, health and mortgage arrears; and in April, the committees on economic recovery and jobs, social policy and mortgage arrears. In May, I chaired meetings of the Cabinet committees on climate change and the green economy, social policy, European affairs, economic recovery and jobs, mortgage arrears and health. So far in June, I have chaired the committees on Irish and the Gaeltacht, mortgage arrears, economic infrastructure, economic recovery and jobs, public service reform, social policy and European affairs.

The Cabinet committee on climate change and the green economy last met on 2 May and will meet again in due course. There have been six meetings of the Cabinet committee on mortgage arrears since it was established in March, the last of which took place yesterday evening. I chair this committee and its members include the Tánaiste and the Ministers for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, Social Protection, the Environment, Community and Local Government and Justice and Equality and the Minister of State with responsibility for housing and planning. The Cabinet committee on health last met on 22 May. I have chaired two meetings of the Cabinet committee on economic recovery and jobs since the Easter recess.

The Economic Management Council, EMC, was established with the same status as a Cabinet committee. It has met 21 times this year: eight times since the Easter recess and 13 times since March. I chair the EMC and its membership consists of the Tánaiste, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The members of the EMC will meet with the banks later this evening. At the meeting the members will set out the Government's commitment to assisting those in mortgage arrears, and provide details of the strategy, which the Tánaiste and I announced earlier this afternoon, to address the mortgage arrears difficulties. The members of the EMC will also take the opportunity to seek assurances from each of the banks that they are fully committed to addressing the mortgage arrears of their customers.

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