Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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889. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the protocols in place since March 2011 to set standards in replies to parliamentary questions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23508/15]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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890. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport whether he is satisfied that parliamentary questions are adequately replied to within his Department; the steps he has taken since March 2011 to ensure parliamentary questions are fully responded to within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23524/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 889 and 890 together.

​My predecessor introduced new procedures for answering Parliamentary Questions within the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport where they relate to the functions of State Agencies under the aegis of the Department. The procedures, designed to introduce greater transparency in answering Parliamentary Questions, require that all such parliamentary Questions be referred to the Agency or Agencies in question for a direct response to the Deputy within 10 working days.

I have continued with these procedures since being appointed to this Office and where Deputies have not received a direct response from Agencies, I ask that they contact my officials and they will follow-up on their behalf. Overall, I am satisfied that the procedures for answering Parliamentary Questions assigned to my Department are working well.

The Deputy will be aware that new standing order 40A(1) was brought into being on 21st July 2011. This seeks to give a remedy to members who feel that an insufficient answer has been given to Parliamentary Questions raised by them.