Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 4: To ask the Taoiseach if he has plans for changes to the Cabinet sub-committees operating under the auspices of his Department [14627/08]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 5: To ask the Taoiseach when the cross-departmental team on infrastructure and public private partnerships last met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17134/08]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 6: To ask the Taoiseach cé na Coistí Comh-Aireachta a bhfuil sé mar bhall díobh. [17215/08]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 7: To ask the Taoiseach the Cabinet committees of which he is a member. [18790/08]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 8: To ask the Taoiseach when the cross-departmental team on infrastructure and public private partnership last met; when the next meeting is due; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19444/08]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 9: To ask the Taoiseach when the cross-departmental team on housing, infrastructure and public private partnership last met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20813/08]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 10: To ask the Taoiseach the changes in personnel that have been made in each Cabinet committee. [20931/08]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 11: To ask the Taoiseach the number of meetings the Cabinet committee on social inclusion has had in the past three years; and the findings and recommendations of that committee [18816/08]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 12: To ask the Taoiseach if the Cabinet committee on social inclusion has met in 2008 and the recommendations it has made. [20937/08]

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 13: To ask the Taoiseach the number of meetings of the Cabinet sub-committee on climate change that have taken place since the formation of the Government. [21368/08]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 14: To ask the Taoiseach the Cabinet committees in place; and the changes in personnel that have been made in each [21306/08]

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 15: To ask the Taoiseach the number of meetings of the Cabinet sub-committee on climate change that have taken place since the formation of the Government; the number he has attended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28019/08]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 15, inclusive, together.

Although the titles of the Cabinet committees dealing with social inclusion issues have changed slightly, there have been 16 meetings of the Cabinet committee responsible for this area in the past three years, most recently in February 2008.

To date, the Cabinet committee on climate change and energy security has met on two occasions since the Government was formed and I attended both meetings. The cross-departmental team on housing, infrastructure and PPPs last met on 1 July 2008 and the date of its next meeting is not yet confirmed. The role of the cross-departmental team is to assist in progressing and resolving issues related to infrastructure planning and delivery, ensuring that they are adequately prepared for consideration by the Cabinet committee on housing, infrastructure and PPPs and, where necessary, by the Government.

Questions about the business conducted at Cabinet committee or cross-departmental team meetings have never been allowed in the House on the grounds that they are internal to Government. Questions about the topics of housing, infrastructure, PPPs and so on should be directed to the responsible Minister.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I want to ask the Taoiseach specifically about the Cabinet sub-committee on infrastructure. Has the Government decided to drop or defer the metro north project and, if so, will the Cabinet sub-committee on infrastructure deal with that Government decision?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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No such decision has been made by Government.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Will the Taoiseach take back his statement of 10 April that he was not concerned about the downturn in the construction sector? Has the cross-departmental team on housing met and reviewed the position whereby the Government was very ill-prepared for the sudden downturn in the construction industry with devastating consequences for 100,000 young couples who now face negative equity and so on? Furthermore, has the cross-departmental team on housing considered the proposals put forward by Deputy Hogan and the Fine Gael Party to free up equity to enable couples to purchase houses now that they are at a deflated price and thereby kick-start some elements of the construction industry again? Has the departmental team considered this area of activity and how best it might be given some stimulus?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am not aware that the cross-departmental team has considered Deputy Hogan's proposals on these matters. Regarding the questions on the construction industry, I do not know what quote the Deputy referred to on 10 April, but the point I would make in that context is that it was clear the construction industry could not continue to constitute 12% of total output every year. We have had a correction that had to take place and is taking place. Unfortunately, the credit squeeze is undermining confidence and that is affecting the output one would have hoped for this year. Some of that is offset by the increased public capital programme the Government has conducted this year and last year. We will continue to see how we can assist in that matter with the hope that the construction industry and confidence in the residential housing market will return as soon as possible to more sustainable output levels, which is estimated at between 55,000 and 60,000 per year.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Regarding the Cabinet sub-committee on climate change and energy security, which the Taoiseach chairs, would he consider appointing one of his Ministers of State to follow up on the various targets being set for this country and ensure that there is greater co-ordination between Departments? There are the Kyoto targets we have to achieve before 2012, the national climate change strategy set by the Government of 3% reduction per annum and we are now facing other cuts coming down the line from the EU of at least 20%.

All this will involve major co-operation between various Departments, including the Departments of Transport, Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. If we do not achieve these targets, it will cost the State a considerable sum of money. I ask the Taoiseach to put somebody in charge of co-ordinating all the various activities of different Departments to ensure we reach these targets. As Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security, of which Deputy McManus is a member, we are at sea. Nobody seems to know what targets are being achieved. I urge the Taoiseach to consider strongly appointing one of his 20 Ministers of State to look into this matter and work from his Department.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Cabinet sub-committee provides the co-ordinating mechanism for all the Departments that have an interest or contribution to make in this area to meet and try to bring together a coherent policy position. As Deputy Barrett said, this is a complex and challenging area in which the Government is very closely involved with the Commission in view of the recent documentation and objectives it outlined in recent months. That is continuing and we are looking at options within and between Departments to continue that work and see how Ireland can try to meet very significant challenges, as Deputy Barrett said.

The emissions trading scheme is part of the Kyoto arrangements and the need to see how that can contribute is a very legitimate part of any country's efforts to meet the obligations and requirements imposed on it. In the two or three meetings the sub-committee has had since I became Taoiseach there has been a very significant drive regarding working across Departments to meet the requirements we are discussing at European Commission level. We must try to accommodate what is being asked of us and marry it with continuing economic growth and progress. These are big issues and I have taken specific advice in my Department on it.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I thank the Taoiseach for telling the House the metro north project is going ahead as planned. That is what I understood from his answer and if he wants to correct that, I am happy to hear what he has to say. Will the Cabinet sub-committee on infrastructure be asked to consider any other changes to the infrastructure programme arising from the decisions made at today's Cabinet meeting?

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Has the cross-departmental committee on housing infrastructure and public private partnerships discussed the disastrous collapse of the public private partnership for the refurbishment of local authority flat complexes in Dublin city in particular? Will the Government now fund the local authority to allow it to complete those projects?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Dublin City Council has made some decisions in recent days on that matter, which are to be welcomed. Obviously we will do all we can to facilitate those projects proceeding as quickly as possible, despite the setbacks that have occurred.

In response to Deputy Gilmore, the Cabinet sub-committee on infrastructure will continue to meet and a meeting is fixed for later this week. It is continuing to review the annual report of the NDP, published recently, which confirms that a lot of the work as envisaged is taking place. A lot of major work is being conducted. On the previous project about which the Deputy asked, I answered his question. He suggested that a decision had been made or rather he seemed to suggest that he had knowledge of a decision made to cancel metro north and I clarified that that was not a correct perception.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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To return to the Taoiseach's statement of 10 April last, he said that he was not worried about the downturn in the construction sector. Then he said a correction was taking place. That correction has had a devastating impact on the entire country and the loss of confidence is now palpable on the streets.

Does the Taoiseach chair the cross-departmental committee on infrastructure, as his predecessor did, and does he sit in on the meetings of the cross-departmental committee on housing? Given that the Taoiseach was in the Department of Finance, he would have known that an economy based on the building of 80,000 to 90,000 housing units was not sustainable. We now have a situation where over 100,000 houses are empty, while the need, particularly among young people, to acquire a home or have access to acquiring same is of critical importance. In that context, has the committee on housing examined the options to expedite a transfer of suitable housing to enable people within a certain range to acquire a home? It must examine the options available because this is a major issue in all parts of the country.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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I am a member of the Joint Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security and usually there is not one line Minister with which the committee deals. It is quite clear that when it comes to a global agreement, following on Bali, it will be Heads of Government who will reach such an agreement. The Taoiseach is chairman of the Cabinet sub-committee on climate change. If, as I wish, the joint committee invited the Taoiseach to come before it to discuss the issue of climate change, would he be willing to accept that invitation? It seems that unless we have leadership from the top on this defining issue of our generation, as it has been described by all and sundry, we will not reach the targets that are being set.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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In response to Deputy McManus, these are matters for the Oireachtas and for me to consider should such an invitation come. I have indicated the seriousness of the Government's intent by reason of the fact that the Cabinet sub-committee on climate change and energy security has met on a number of occasions, is engaged on the issue and is trying to devise strategies that will help us to meet our challenging commitments while not damaging the economy. We are intent on finding solutions that are practical and that meet the requirements of the situation. As I said, I have taken a special advisor in that area as an indication of the seriousness of our intent.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Is that a definite maybe?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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In response to Deputy Kenny's question, he again paraphrased me incorrectly. I have made the point that in respect of the construction industry, the question of it being able to maintain 12% of output was not sustainable. That correction is taking place. What we and the Cabinet sub-committee on housing, infrastructure and PPPs, which is meeting this week, will continue to do is to see in what way Government can assist the situation and bring back market conditions as quickly as possible that will see output rise again.