I beg to state, for the information of the Dáil, that the Government on the 6th instant appointed Deputy Charles Haughey to the office of Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Justice, with effect from the 9th instant.
Appointment of Parliamentary Secretary: Announcement by Taoiseach.
I understand that our procedure does not ordinarily envisage a discussion on a subject such as this. That is reserved for the appointment of Ministers?
That is so.
Would the Taoiseach say—he need not answer this question if he does not like—why it is necessary to assign a Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Justice, it being a relatively small Department?
Ordinarily I would agree that the Department of Justice would not require the services of a Parliamentary Secretary but at present there is a very considerable congestion of work there, including a great deal of legislation which it is desired to have enacted. This is a temporary arrangement to facilitate Government business.
Mr. Ryan
Would the Taoiseach not consider that the matter might be met by transferring a couple of civil servants instead of paying an extra £2,000 to a Parliamentary Secretary?
Order!
They have not the right of audience here.
This is one of the 100,000 jobs.