Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2015
199. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the protocols in place, since March 2011, to set standards in parliamentary replies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23506/15]
View answer200. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she is satisfied that Parliamentary Questions are adequately replied to within her Department; the steps she has taken, since March 2011, to ensure Parliamentary Questions are fully responded to within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23522/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 200 together.
In 2014, the Department answered 3,693 parliamentary questions.
To ensure that parliamentary questions are answered fully and to a high standard, each question is initially sent to the appropriate policy or scheme area for response, where the most detailed information is at hand. This reply is then reviewed by senior management and finally cleared by top management (at Assistant Secretary level) to ensure a comprehensive response before being forwarded to my office or the Minister for State’s office (as appropriate) for final clearance.
I am satisfied that parliamentary questions are fully answered to the appropriate standard.
