Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 7, inclusive, together.

In response to Question No. 1, the Economic Management Council is not being re-established.

In response to Questions Nos. 2, 3 and 6, all Cabinet committees stand dissolved at the end of every Government's term in office. The new Government has, therefore, established Cabinet committees on housing; health; social policy and public service reform; justice reform; European affairs; and regional and rural affairs. At this morning's Cabinet meeting, the Government established three more Cabinet committees on the economy, trade and jobs; infrastructure, environment and climate action; and arts, Irish and the Gaeltacht.

In response to Questions Nos. 4 and 5, I have chaired six Cabinet committee meetings to date in 2016. In January, I chaired a meeting of the committee on justice reform. I chaired meetings of the Cabinet committee on housing on 12, 20 and 26 May and 2 June, and a meeting of the committee on health on 12 May. The Cabinet committee on housing is scheduled to meet again tomorrow, 9 June. Further Cabinet committee meetings will be scheduled over the coming weeks.

In response to Question No. 7, the Government is setting up a new dedicated Cabinet committee which will deal with arts, Irish and the Gaeltacht. It will be separate from the Cabinet committee on regional and rural affairs. Therefore, in addition to being part of a larger Department headed by a senior Cabinet Minister, arts and culture will now have a separate dedicated Cabinet committee. Some people seem to think otherwise but that is the way it is going to be.

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