Since Deputy Reynolds seems to be not clear regarding my ruling on his question concerning the Cabinet task force and since he raised the matter in the House twice and again today, I should like to clarify the position briefly.

The practice for many years has been that questions seeking information on matters relating to internal arrangements of the Cabinet are disallowed. These are matters for which the Taoiseach is not responsible to the Dáil. Deputy Reynolds' question on the Cabinet task force was disallowed in accordance with this long-standing practice. Question No. 3 on today's Order Paper does not relate to the Cabinet but to the task force of Ministers of State and accordingly it was allowed.

I accepted your ruling yesterday evening but I was surprised that the Taoiseach did not take the opportunity in Private Members' Time to answer the question. Perhaps you could clarify one matter. I accept that today's question is totally different from the other one, but apart from the situation where subcommittees of the Cabinet are set up by the Taoiseach, in this instance the Taoiseach came into the House——

I shall not have a discussion on this. The Chair is entitled to make a statement qualifying the position. I have done that and that is the end of the discussion.

I would not attempt to put down a question in relation to a security subcommittee, for instance, but the Taoiseach came into the House and announced the setting up of this committee. It was part of the Programme for Government. It is very strange that the Taoiseach is not responsible to the House. To be told that is a step in the wrong direction as far as democracy is concerned. If he kept it within the Cabinet and did not bring it into the Dáil or the public arena I would accept it. He seems to use the techniques when they suit him.

The Taoiseach is not responsible.

It is question of policy. It is part of the Government's policy announced in the House.

I suggest to Deputy Reynolds that if he is not satisfied with Standing Orders or with precedents he should take the matter up with the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.

I still have to have a discussion with you in your office.

The Deputy did not avail of that opportunity yet.

If the Chair had to try to hold on in the House as I have had to and do all that I have to do, the Chair would not have had time either. I may have time in the afternoon.