Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I asked a question and I am somewhat at a disadvantage as I have never served in government. What were advisers doing in previous Governments? Were they not engaging with one another? We have had coalition Governments for a long time and there are different policy perspectives when different parties join together. What were advisers doing in the previous Government that meant they needed a new dedicated office to deal with partnership Government? Is the relationship so fractured that another layer of people are needed to facilitate interaction and engagement and ensure information is disseminated from one Department to another?

I note certain Deputies had no problem getting information out very speedily before any such unit was established. I wonder about the need for the unit. Ministers and Ministers of State have always had auxiliary staff to deal with various Departments and the Oireachtas.

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