John Bruton
Question:11 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the recent meetings, if any, he has had with the chief executives of semi-State bodies. [9268/98]
Ceisteanna—Questions. - Meetings with Semi-State Bodies.
Contacts between the managements of semi-State bodies and Government usually take the form of ongoing or periodic interaction involving the appropriate parent Departments and Ministers. The Government of course frequently makes decisions affecting the operations of such bodies and, additionally, I am kept informed of other key developments and issues. That process of interaction works well but is complemented, as the need arises, by meetings between myself and the chief executives of semi-State organisations, particularly those having an involvement or interest in the job creation area.
A key Government priority in relation to the semi-State sector has been to maximise the conditions to enable such companies to be competitive and cost-effective in the provision of vital public services. The buoyant state of the economy has created the climate in which these aims continue to be advanced.
I take it the Taoiseach has no plans to follow the example of his illustrious predecessor who arranged high level meetings with semi-State bodies whenever he was in need of a photo call.
I will answer the question without entering into a debate on it. Whenever relevant issues, plans or developments need to be discussed, the practice of meeting the individual semi-State body is more productive.
They will not be summoned to Kinsealy.