asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the basic changes, if any, in the administration of his Department or in the larger Irish embassies since he took office.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Administrative Charges.
35.
No changes of a structural nature in the administration of my Department have taken place since the Government took office. Broadly speaking, I am satisfied that the administrative structure of my Department, and of its missions abroad, is geared to the most effective implementation of our foreign policy objectives. Since I took office, the Department have however been engaged in reviewing their operations in a number of areas in order particularly to make their contribution in meeting the Government's objectives as set out in the Programme for National Recovery and also with a view to ensuring the most efficient use of the Department's resources.
Is the Minister aware of the concern being expressed at the attempt to remove key functions from his Department? Will the Minister assure the House that he has not, willingly or unwillingly, relinquished any of his key functions?
There is no question of any functions under my control as Minister for Foreign Affairs being removed, changed or anything of that nature. Any speculation to the contrary is totally without foundation.
Are any radical changes intended or about to be carried out?
No, beyond the improvements that can be implemented. If the Deputy is referring to radical changes such as the removal of functions I can tell him that is not taking place. What will take place are improvements, changes in personnel, redeployment of personnel and an emphasis on certain aspects of activity. They are natural changes in the improvement of the functions of any Department.
Has the Minister the same control in the formulation of policy in regard to Anglo-Irish affairs, EC affairs and Northern Ireland affairs as his immediate predecessor? Should we read any significance into the appointment of an official of the Department of Finance to investigate the irregularities in regard to passports rather than an official of the Department of Foreign Affairs?
That seems to be a separate question.
In regard to policy matters dealing with Anglo-Irish relations, the EC or other matters, my position is precisely the same as that of my predecessor. There is no change in regard to policy initiatives in those areas and in other areas of foreign affairs. With regard to the last point raised by the Deputy, I should like to tell him that an Assistant Secretary of my Department was the person who first investigated the London passport issue. We decided to have a look at the overall procedure and in doing so considered that it would be wise to bring in an official from the Department of Finance. His function is not so much directed at the London affair but to take an overall look at the personnel structure in passport offices. Since the transfer of the functions of the former Department of the Public Service to the Department of Finance matters dealing with personnel lie with the Department of Finance. The diplomatic aspect of external embassies is dealt with at a different level to passport matters. We want to see if at the level of personnel those functions can be integrated, controlled or managed in a different way. The official from the Department of Finance is dealing purely with the personnel aspect and that is totally unrelated to the general question of the issuing of passports which lies with the Department of Foreign Affairs.