Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 22, inclusive, together.

The Economic Management Council has met 28 times so far this year, most recently on 19 September, and the next meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, 26 September.

The Government has been working closely with the Irish banks to ensure the banking sector supports economic recovery. The members of the council last met with the banks on 26 June. The general topic of that meeting was mortgage arrears and new mortgage lending. The timing of the meeting coincided with the Government's decision to publish the personal insolvency legislation.

During that meeting the members of the council took the opportunity to set out the Government's commitment to assisting those in mortgage arrears, and set out our strategy to address mortgage arrears difficulties. The members of the council also took the opportunity to seek assurances from each of the banks that they are fully committed to addressing the mortgage arrears of their customers.

The Cabinet Committee on Health last met on 13 July and is scheduled to meet again during October. I chair this committee and its members are the Tánaiste; the Ministers for Health, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Children and Youth Affairs; and the Ministers of State for primary care, and disability, equality and mental health.

The Cabinet Committee on Climate Change and the Green Economy last met on 2 May; the Committee on Public Service Reform on 14 June; the Committee on Social Policy on 19 June; and the Committees on Economic Infrastructure, Mortgage Arrears and on Irish and the Gaeltacht on 19 July. The Cabinet Committee on European Affairs met on 18 September, and the Committee on Economic Recovery and Jobs met on 20 September.

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