Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

That is a matter for the Chair in the other House. It is not for me to judge. I understand that the legislation will not change the practice that exists in the other House. If a question is asked about a matter pertaining to a health board, for example, the information sought is not given by the Minister and the Deputy is referred to the health board instead. This legislation will not make a difference to the parliamentary practice relating to parliamentary questions. At present, if one asks a question about a matter that is exclusively within the province of a health board, the ministerial reply refers one back to the health board. After this Bill has been enacted, the ministerial reply will refer one back to the health service executive. The only change is that the Minister has introduced regulations which allow the executive to provide information to both Houses of the Oireachtas.