School names omitted from questions
Fitzpatrick questioned why school names were omitted from questions marked “details supplied,” arguing that the Department usually needs the name to identify the school. The Minister said Deputies could request full details; O’Rourke suggested the wording indicated a request for privacy, and the Chair moved to the next question.
Might I ask whether the suppression of the name of the school in Question No. 18 and in another question on today's Order Paper represents a departure from existing policy? Heretofore it was only in personal matters that a name was not disclosed, and I assume it is the Department who change the form of the question.
Comment on this
Where a Deputy asks that details be supplied, we are happy to deal with a question in that way. We have no problems about giving full details if they are requested.
Comment on this
If I put down a question regarding Drung national school, with which the Minister is familiar, the name of the school would appear in the question. In this case, Deputy Gregory has a question relating to schools and I presume that the names were given. However, in the questions on the Order Paper such schools are anonymous.
Comment on this
It is not a matter for the Deputy. The name of the school is usually given, otherwise the Minister would not know which school was being referred to.
Comment on this
In one of the questions the Deputy said "details supplied" which means he wanted the details kept private.