Dáil debates

Tuesday, 1 July 2014

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed)

Ministerial Meetings

5:25 pm

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together.

Like public representatives generally, I meet church and other religious leaders, for the most part on an informal basis, in the course of attending official or public events. In addition, I meet representatives of religious and other philosophical bodies through a formal structured dialogue process, which provides a channel for consultation and communication between the State and such bodies on matters of mutual concern. These meetings take place at both ministerial and official level and meetings may be sought by either side on the basis of a proposed agenda, agreed in advance of the meeting. The arrangements for such meetings are made by my Department, which provides the administrative support for the process.

I wish to point out, however, that this process does not displace arrangements for the conduct of policy and administration by Departments and agencies in their functional responsibilities. Since taking office, I have attended a plenary meeting with all the partners in the structured dialogue process. Last year, I also met representatives of the Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland and an ecumenical delegation of European churches to discuss the priorities of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. I have previously outlined for the House in detail the matters discussed at these meetings.

It is my intention to continue to hold meetings with the dialogue partners not only from the Christian churches, but from other faiths and philosophical traditions.

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