asked the Taoiseach the precise duties of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Duties of Parliamentary Secretary.
1.
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence is, in accordance with Section 11 (2) of the Defence Act, 1954, one of the two civil members of the Council of Defence. In his capacity as such Parliamentary Secretary, he has no other functions.
It is the long-established practice to appoint as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence a person who is also Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach or to another Minister.
May I say, first of all, that this question is not intended to cast any reflection whatever on the Parliamentary Secretary? Secondly, would the Taoiseach say whether, in his capacity as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, the Parliamentary Secretary has any function in connection with remedying grievances of Army personnel?
The Parliamentary Secretary has no such function, and never had any such function.