Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 May 2004
198 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will list the number of meetings in the past year of each interdepartmental committee or body on which his Department is represented; the frequency and location of its meetings; and where it is intended those meetings will take place after decentralisation. [15015/04]
View answerMy Department has a broad remit of responsibilities across the justice, equality, disability and other sectors and consequently a large number of meetings involving officials of my Department are held every day. Departmental representatives are involved, together with other civil servants and people from outside the service in committees, advisory groups and working groups dealing with a range of issues. The information requested is not readily available and could be compiled only by diverting considerable staff resources from other important work. If, however, the Deputy has a special interest in any particular committee, I will ask that as much of the records as are available and are suitable for release, subject to the usual conditions, be made available to him.
The vast majority of meetings held in my Department will be unaffected by decentralisation, but where they are, they will be facilitated by video conferencing facilities, such as those which already link our finance division in Killarney to headquarters.
