Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The economic management committee was established with the status of a Cabinet committee. It has only four members, namely, myself, the Tánaiste and the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform. I will not bother the House with the details of the agendas for each of our meetings but, as already stated, we discuss matters that go to Cabinet for decision. If issues need to be teased out before a matter goes before the Cabinet for discussion and decision, then that is what happens. This does not undermine the role of the Cabinet at all. The committee has been in place for three years and I am of the view that it streamlines the process very well and removes the necessity to engage in long discussions at Cabinet. The committee can define issues at its meetings and if there are further matters which required discussion by the Cabinet, then this happens.

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