asked the Taoiseach whether he will state the reasons for the recent changes in the Ministry, the changes of policy, if any, involved by these changes, and whether any further changes are contemplated.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Changes in the Ministry.
The recent changes have arisen mainly out of the emergency, which has necessitated the appointment of a Minister for Supplies and a Minister for the Co-ordination of Defensive Measures. These appointments have made a general rearrangement desirable.
No change of policy is involved, as may be realised from the fact that the reallocation which has been made does not involve any change in the personnel of the Government as a whole, the members of which are collectively responsible for policy.
With regard to the question of further changes the Deputy will have seen from the Order Paper that I propose to nominate Deputy P.J. Little for appointment as a member of the Government. It is intended that he should be assigned to the Department of Posts and Telegraphs. With regard to the Ministry of Education it would not, I think, be possible for the Tánaiste to discharge the duties of that Ministry as well as those of Minister for Finance. I propose, therefore, as from to-day, to assume responsibility for the Department of Education myself. I fear, however, that it will be necessary at a later stage to secure the assistance of a Parliamentary Secretary who would attend to the day-to-day work of that Department.