Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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97. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the parliamentary liaison unit of his Department. [23189/19]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Parliamentary Liaison Unit (PLU) was established in 2016. It is staffed by 4 staff members; a Principal Officer; two Higher Executive Officers (1.5) and a Clerical Officer. Its role is to facilitate the enhanced relationship between the Government and the Oireachtas and in this regard its work is complementary to that of the Office of the Government Chief Whip helping to ensure the implementation of the Government's legislative programme.

The Unit also liaises on a regular basis with advisers and Departments with a view to ensuring that they are aware of Oireachtas issues and to assist them in engaging with the new processes arising from Dail reform.

In addition, the PLU works closely with Government Departments on their input to Private Members Business (PMB) in both the Dáil and the Seanad.

In July 2018, in an effort to improve the system for dealing with PMBs, the Government and the Sub Committee on Dáil Reform both approved an MOU between the Government and Dáil Eireann on Private Members’ Bills.

The PLU will continue to provide guidance and advice for Departments on the Government Commitments contained in the MOU.