Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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111. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to be present for more Topical Issues debates relevant to her ministerial brief in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33255/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Because of its size and scope, the Department of Social Protection is subject to one of the largest volumes of requests for topical issues. When topical issues tabled to my Department are selected for answer by the Ceann Comhairle, I make every effort to take these debates and will continue to do so. To date I have taken 22 such debates in the Dail, which I understand compares favourably with other Departments. But I am not always in a position to take topical issues given the work and time pressures on my office. There is no Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection. As a result, when I am not in a position to take a topical issue in the Dail, Ministers from other Departments do so on my behalf.