asked the Minister for the Public Service if he will consider changing the title Parliamentary Secretary to that of Secretary of State.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Parliamentary Secretary Title.
43.
A change in the title "Parliamentary Secretary" would require legislation which is not at present contemplated.
Would I be correct in saying that the title of "Secretary of State" is more commonly used outside this country and the title "Parliamentary Secretary" occasionally causes some confusion as to the status of this junior Minister?
Yes, but it must be said that "Secretary of State" causes even more confusion about status because in Britain and in the United States "Secretary of State" represents the highest level of Minister, broadly speaking, whereas on the Continent, the title is used to indicate a junior Minister, what we would refer to as a Parliamentary Secretary, so that whatever the merits of the change it is unlikely to reduce confusion because of this aspect.
Would the Minister not have future discussions, perhaps with the other countries in Europe to get a common title for the junior Minister rank?
I do not think so. I think there is a limit to this harmonisation business. I am not too sure that we need to harmonise in that way and in fact it would involve radical constitutional changes in a country like Britain where people like the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and the Lord Privy Seal would have to be harmonised and I would hate to tackle that job as well as the other things we have to do in the Community.
I think we are the only state that uses the title "Parliamentary Secretary".
Ourselves and Britain. I accept that "Secretary of State" is more common and raises fewer questions but it does not, for the reason I have mentioned, reduce confusion.