My Department has answered 10,895 parliamentary questions from January 2016 to 6 December 2018. This figure includes linked questions where a single comprehensive answer is provided to a number of questions on the same subject. It does not include questions which have been withdrawn, disallowed or transferred to another Department.
When information is sought which is in the purview of a body or agency under the aegis of my Department, the practice is to seek that information in order to provide it in the response to the parliamentary question, rather than referring the question to that body or agency for direct reply. That is generally the position in relation to, for example, An Garda Síochána, and the Courts Service. Where information is not available in the time provided for by the Oireachtas, I generally issue a follow-up response to the question when the information becomes available. On occasion, I may indicate in my answer that information, or further information, is to be provided directly to the Deputy by an agency or body under my remit.
My Department has a Parliamentary Questions coordinator whose functions include liaison with the Questions office in the Houses of the Oireachtas. Since September 2017 my Department has operated the ePQ system - an integrated system which allows for the timely submission, approval and transfer to the Oireachtas of replies to parliamentary questions, and involves input from staff across the Department.
Replies are prepared by Departmental staff working directly in the subject area. As with other areas of work, my adviser may liaise with other staff as part of this process and on my behalf, prior to submission of responses to the Oireachtas. Neither public affairs companies or public relations companies have any involvement in the process.