Under the programme for Government the Taoiseach has committed to significant reform of the committee system, in particular that the head of any Department or State body would make himself or herself available to committees. I am concerned that the Secretary General of the Department of Justice and Equality wrote to the clerk of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality to say that he would attend the committee but would not answer any question on the departure of the former Garda Commissioner. I put it to the Taoiseach that the response flies in the face of the commitment in the programme for Government on the first page of the political reform section to the effect that the chief executive of every State body, agency and Department should go before committees and answer the questions they would be ordinarily asked.

It is fair to say that the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality has specific questions to ask on the circumstances surrounding the departure of the former Garda Commissioner and should be allowed to ask them and the Secretary General should answer them. Will the Taoiseach indicate whether the Secretary General's position is in conformity with the programme for Government and whether he will intervene to ensure the committee is allowed to do its work? Could the Taoiseach also indicate when the universal primary care Act will be introduced?

In respect of the first question, I note that the Secretary General is attending the committee tomorrow to deal with the issues arising from the Guerin report. Deputy Martin is well aware that because of other matters, a commission of investigation has been set up and an appointment has been made of a Supreme Court judge to deal with a range of matters which include the subject of the first question asked by the Deputy. The sole member has absolute discretion in the work and responsibility he has undertaken. The Secretary General's letter makes that clear. His intention in attending the committee is in accordance with his responsibility as Secretary General. A commission of investigation has been set up for a specific purpose and is running after two weeks. It is an exceptional measure and is not referred to in the programme for Government.

The Secretary General should not be precluded from answering questions.

Deputy Martin asked me about the White Paper. The consultation process is now beginning on the White Paper. It will focus on the range of services-----

I asked about universal primary care.

I will have to come back to the Deputy on the matter which is the responsibility of the Minister of State, Deputy Alex White.

I have two questions, one of which concerns the Government's timetable for its response to the Guerin report. The Taoiseach should have made it clear that the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality will be allowed to do its work. I am disappointed he did not do that in terms of the appearance by the Secretary General of the Department of Justice and Equality. When does the Taoiseach expect to publish the terms of reference for the commission of investigation into those issues identified in the report by Seán Guerin SC? When will the Government bring forward the new legislation to strengthen the operation of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission? When will the Oireachtas have sight of the Government's proposal for an independent Garda authority which is to be up and running by the end of the year? When can we expect details on the process of recruitment by open competition for the new Garda Commissioner.

I also have a question ar ábhar eile. When does the Taoiseach expect the White Paper on energy will be published, following the publication on Monday of the energy policy Green Paper? The Taoiseach might have noted that the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, has raised the possibility of the State building a fourth generation nuclear reactor. Is the Government seriously proposing to build a nuclear reactor?