Vol. 518 No. 6
25 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach the number of occasions the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructural Development Including Public Private Partnership has met; when the last meeting was held; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11352/00]
26 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the number of meetings of the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructural Development Including Public Private Partnership; when the last meeting was held; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12388/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 26 together.
The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure has met on six occasions to date. Its last meeting was on 18 April 2000.
The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure is an integral part of Government and its meetings, as with any Cabinet committee, are an integral part of the business of Government. The practice has grown up over time of allowing questions in the House as to the date and number of meetings of such committees. Questions as to the business conducted at Cabinet committee meetings have never been allowed in the House on the grounds that they are internal to Government. The reasons for this approach are founded on sound policy principles and the need to avoid infringing the constitutional protection of Cabinet confidentiality.
