Vol. 463 No. 6
209 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice whether a Minister of State has been appointed with responsibility for the sub-committee on the drugs problem, a sub-committee of the Committee on Legislation and Security. [7153/96]
Under the terms of reference of the Committee on Legislation and Security paragraph 3, the relevant Minister is an ex-officio member of the committee when the committee is discussing any matter relevant to paragraph 1 of the standing orders. If any of these matters are delegated to a sub-committee then the relevant Minister is ex-officio a member of the sub-committee during such discussions. The question, therefore, of appointing a Minister as ex-officio member of a sub-committee when it is dealing with business not covered under paragraph 1 of the standing orders does not arise. As the issue of drugs is a matter for a number of Departments and therefore Ministers, clearly it is open to the sub-committee to invite the relevant Minister to attend, under paragraph 16.
