Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

I ask the Leader to convey to the Minister for Finance and Ministers that, under the terms of the benchmarking award, Ministers should respond to letters written by Seanad and Dáil Members. It takes up to three months to get a reply from a Minister or a Department. An acknowledgement may be sent within a week or ten days, but a proper reply is not sent for up to six months. They should respond sooner. Under the terms of the benchmarking awards, replies should issue more quickly.