Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 17, inclusive, together.

The Cabinet committee on social affairs and public services oversees implementation of the programme for Government commitments in the areas of social policy and public services. The committee covers a range of topics in the areas of social policy with a particular focus on equality and integration and public service reform. Other topics covered by the committee include sport, social protection, arts and culture, public services and justice issues such as policing reform and community safety.

The Cabinet committee will receive detailed reports on identified policy areas and consider the implementation of commitments and reforms. The first meeting of the new Cabinet committee will be held shortly.

Issues recently considered by the previous Cabinet committee on social affairs and equality, which last met at the end of October 2022, include the implementation of the third national domestic, sexual and gender-based violence strategy and progress on policing reforms. In addition to meetings of the Cabinet committee, I have regular engagement with Ministers at Cabinet level and individually to discuss priority issues relating to their Departments. Meetings have also been held between my officials and officials from relevant Government Departments on a range of social policy issues.

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