B'áil liom cead a chur in iúl, mar eolas don Dáil, gur chuir mé m'ainmniú mar Thaoiseach in iúl don Uachtarán agus gur cheap sí mé dá réir.
I wish to announce, for the information of the Dáil, that I have informed the President that the Dáil has nominated me to be the Taoiseach and that she has appointed me accordingly.
Tairigim: "Go gcomhaontóidh Dáil Éireann leis an Taoiseach d'ainmniú na dTeachtaí seo a leanas chun a gceaptha ag an Uachtarán mar chomhaltaí den Rialtas."
I move: "That Dáil Éireann approve the nomination by the Taoiseach of the following Deputies for appointment by the President to be members of the Government:
Máire Ní Áirne |
Mary Harney |
I also propose to nominate her as Tánaiste.
Micheál Mac Gabhann |
Michael Smith |
Seosamh Breathnach |
Joe Walsh |
Cathal Mac Riabhaigh |
Charlie McCreevy |
Brian Ó Comhain |
Brian Cowen |
Nollaig Ó Diomasaigh |
Noel Dempsey |
Diarmuid Ó hEichiarn |
Dermot Ahern |
Seán Ó Donnchadha |
John O'Donoghue |
Micheál Ó Máirtín |
Micheál Martin |
Séamus Ó Braonáin |
Seamus Brennan |
Micheál Mac Dubhghaill |
Michael McDowell |
Máirtín Ó Cuilinn |
Martin Cullen |
Éamon Ó Cuív |
Éamon Ó Cuív |
agus |
and |
Máire Ní Cochláin |
Mary Coughlan |
I propose to nominate Rory Brady S.C. for appointment by the President to be the Attorney General.
The programme for Government which has been agreed between the Government parties sets out the agenda and priorities for the next five years. I have started implementing that agenda today in my nominations for the next Government by bringing together a team with an unparalleled range of experience and wealth of abilities. I am also proposing to make key changes in the current allocation of responsibilities among Departments, to better focus resources on achieving the key strategic results to which this Government is committed. As a result of this reallocation of functions, a number of Departments will have new titles to reflect the grouping of functions.
In reviewing the responsibilities of Departments I am acutely conscious of the ever-increasing pace of change in needs and priorities in the modern economy. This is reflected more and more in how the division of responsibilities is shaped and reshaped among Departments to respond most effectively to those challenges. We are fortunate in having a public service which has proved flexible and adaptive in these circumstances.
The development of the integrated transport policy to which we are committed in the programme for Government calls for vigorous and determined efforts during the lifetime of the Government. It requires concentration of resources and alignment of policies to put in place a network of tightly integrated facilities. The Government's commitment is to the creation of high quality transport services to tackle existing bottlenecks and congestion and to support a vigorous programme of spatial development to rebalance growth more equitably among the regions. The building of a modern, quality transport network will best be achieved by bringing together the relevant functions under a single Department dedicated to resolving those issues. This Department will be titled the Department of Transport. It will have responsibility for roads other than local roads, traffic, rail and bus, aviation and road safety. The full details will be worked out in the coming days. I am assigning this Department to Deputy Seamus Brennan.
The Government is committed to a vigorous programme of environmental protection and renewal. Throughout the programme for Government, policies and initiatives have been informed by environmental concerns and by the Government's commitment to protection and preservation of the built and natural environment. The Department of the Environment and Local Government, while continuing to retain its responsibilities in respect of local government, will oversee implementation of a wide range of initiatives arising from the prioritisation of environment friendly policies by the Government. There will be a renewed focus on environmental sustainability. Initiatives will be taken to improve the quality of our air and water. There will be greater emphasis on recycling in waste management and we will continue, and intensify, our efforts to tackle our litter problem. New enforcement mechanisms are to be put in place to drive the agenda for a cleaner, greener environment and we will continue to make our contribution to international actions designed to mitigate and reverse the impact of modern development on the global climate.
With its increasing focus on environmental issues, it is appropriate that the Department of the Environment and Local Government also be given responsibility for the protection of our natural heritage and for heritage policy generally. Accordingly, I intend that responsibility for heritage policy and Dúchas be transferred to that Department, while responsibility for the management and other operational aspects of our built heritage will be exercised by the Office of Public Works. The Meteorological Office will also come under the aegis of the Department of the Environment and Local Government as will responsibility for nuclear safety issues, including policy on Sellafield and the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland. I am assigning this Department to Deputy Martin Cullen.
There are a number of other changes in responsibilities of Departments which I believe will be beneficial in providing structural support to Government in its programme for the next five years. This realignment of responsibilities will also help to exploit the synergies which will be generated by the more dynamic grouping of departmental functions which I am proposing.
One of the important underpinnings of economic development in the years ahead will be to ensure that the core services of a modern economy and our natural resources are developed to the full. Accordingly, I propose to bring together these important economic activities which include telecommunications, broadcasting, energy, marine and natural resources in a Department of Communications and Natural Resources which will also have responsibility for the Geological Survey of Ireland. I am assigning this Department to Deputy Dermot Ahern.
As well as securing economic development, the Government has to address issues of regional and social balance in a more effective way. The changes I am proposing are designed to produce a more co-ordinated engagement by the State with communities around the country, especially in the western part of the country as they pursue their own development. A Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, is therefore being set up. It will be given responsibility for community and local development, including drugs, volunteering and the CAIT initiative, and rural development, including Leader, CLÁR and western development. The Department will also have responsibility for the islands. I am assigning this Department to Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív.
In consequence of these changes, the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs will become the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development will become the Department of Agriculture and Food. I am assigning these Departments to Deputies Mary Coughlan and Joe Walsh respectively.
Some key areas of our national life are not easily designated as economic or social, but they have dimensions of both. To reflect those important areas in a more appropriate way, a Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism will take responsibility for progressing Government commitments in those areas. I am assigning this Department to Deputy John O'Donoghue.
Pending the making of the necessary orders to give effect to these changes, I propose to announce the assignment of Ministers to Departments based upon the existing departmental configurations and division of responsibilities. Those assignment, in full, are as follows:
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to Mary Harney.
Department of Defence to Michael Smith.
Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development to Joe Walsh.
Department of Finance to Charlie McCreevy.
Department of Foreign Affairs to Brian Cowen.
Department of Education and Science to Noel Dempsey.
Department of the Marine and Natural Resources to Dermot Ahern.
Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands to Éamon Ó Cuív.
Department of Health and Children to Micheál Martin.
Department of Public Enterprise to Seamus Brennan.
Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to Michael McDowell.
Department of the Environment and Local Government to Martin Cullen.
Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation to John O'Donoghue.
Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs to Mary Coughlan.
It is customary at this time also to announce the intention to nominate for appointment by the Government a small number of key Ministers of State. I propose to nominate Deputy Mary Hanafin for appointment by the Government as Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and as Government Chief Whip.
Considerable progress has been made in building the foundations of an information society in Ireland which will be inclusive and dynamic and which will harness all the benefits of the new information and communications technologies. However, there is a vast programme of change and innovation which must be undertaken if the Government's ambition to position Ireland at the leading edge of technological change is to be realised. Comprehensive new structures have been put in place to lead this process of change and I intend that the Government Chief Whip should be assigned political responsibility for co-ordinating policy in this area.
The Government is committed to the process of enlargement and, with all others who are convinced about Ireland's future in the European Union, will be seeking the approval of the people for the Nice treaty on enlargement on the basis of addressing the concerns expressed during previous referendums and in the National Forum on Europe.
In addition, preparations must be commenced now for Ireland's Presidency of the EU in 2004. I have decided therefore to create a post of Minister of State for Europe to co-ordinate on these and other issues. The Minister of State is being assigned to the Departments of the Taoiseach and Foreign Affairs. Accordingly, I also propose to nominate Deputy Dick Roche as Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and at the Department of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for European Affairs.