asked the Taoiseach when it is proposed to terminate the appointment of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Justice which was stated by him on 10th May, 1960, to be a temporary arrangement to facilitate Government business.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Parliamentary Secretary to Minister for Justice.
1.
Mr. Ryan
I have nothing to add to my reply to a similar question addressed to me in this House on the 31st May, 1960.
Mr. Ryan
If it be a fact that the Minister for Justice is either unable or unwilling to execute the functions of his Department, would not the proper course be for him to resign so that the cost of £5,000 a year of the dual appointments in the Department of Justice will not continue?
That seems to be a separate question.
As a matter of fact, I am now quite satisfied that there is in the Department of Justice a great deal of work which has been neglected over many years by reason of the inability of successive Ministers for Justice to overtake it and that the work of that Department will require the assistance of a Parliamentary Secretary for quite a long time to come.
Is it not a fact that the main reason this appointment was first made and why it is not now being terminated is because the Parliamentary Secretary is the Taoiseach's son-in-law?
That is a separate question.
Mr. Ryan
It is apparently not now the intention of the Taoiseach to terminate this appointment which, he said, was a temporary appointment, and the country will have to wait for a general election and a Fine Gael Taoiseach to have this post abolished.