asked the Taoiseach his views on Ministers of State retaining positions on local authorities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Membership of Local Authorities.
1.
As I have stated in this House on 7 April and 12 May 1987 it has been a general principle for many years that Ministers of State should, as soon as conveniently possible after appointment, resign from membership of any local authority to which they belong, unless only a short time remains of their term of office or other special considerations are involved. This principle continues to apply.
May I ask the Taoiseach if some of his Ministers of State are still serving on local authorities and if he will identify them to the House?
Yes, a number of Ministers of State have not yet been able to resign their membership because of the principles that were enunciated. They are: Deputies Vincent Brady, Michael Smith, Joe Walsh, Seán McCarthy, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Ger Connolly, Terry Leyden, Pat the Cope Gallagher, Denis Lyons, Frank Fahey, and Noel Treacy.
Which ones have resigned?
Candour and honesty are this Government's motto.
I get the impression at times that the members of the Taoiseach's party do as he bids. Will the Taoiseach give an instruction that his Ministers of State should now resign forthwith from local authorities? It is quite disgraceful that that number of Ministers of State have failed to resign since April this year. Will the Taoiseach now give an instruction to those people to resign so that they can give their full time to the duties of their ministerial posts?
It is strange that the former Tánaiste and member of the Labour Party should be raising this issue in view of the headlines set by that party in previous Administrations. I would like to assure the Deputy that we had a general meeting of Government, including Ministers of State, last Sunday to carry out a complete review of the economic situation and progress being made in economic recovery and, as a result of that meeting, I am satisfied that each and every one of these Ministers of State is, to put it mildly, playing a blinder in his or her Department. They are fully discharging, in a most competent, thorough and meticulous way, the duties I have entrusted to them so the Deputy need not have any worries about that matter.
Does that include Deputy Joe Walsh?
I will attempt to offer the Taoiseach spectacles so that he can examine the quality of the blinder at closer range. Will the Taoiseach ask his Ministers of State to resign? As he said, in general policy terms he does not approve of Ministers——
We are having repetition now.
A Cheann Comhairle, I can assure you I will be the most relaxed person if the Taoiseach will answer the question. Is he going to issue an instruction to the Ministers of State to resign from the local authorities, eight months after they came to office?
May I ask the Taoiseach if the Ministers of State serving on local authorities are eligible to claim travelling expenses in respect of attendance at meetings of local authorities?
We are having a widening of this question now.
I do not know but I expect that, as they are receiving travelling expenses as Ministers of State, there would not be any question of duplication.
May I ask the Taoiseach——
We cannot dwell on this question all day.
——if he will investigate that matter to ensure that there is no double claiming of expenses?
I would be very glad to do so because I share the Deputy's anxiety in the matter.
Can the Taoiseach indicate if there are any particular features or problems which prevent the Ministers of State in question from resigning, whether he has made any inquiries into this matter and whether there is anything which is preventing them from writing out letters of resignation this afternoon?
It is important that the whole process of local government be properly carried on. Local government in its own way is just as important as national Government and indeed in many respects, from the point of view of the ordinary everyday lives of people, local government impinges on them more than national Government. I am concerned that there should be no disruption——
They are not displaying very much confidence in the Taoiseach and his durability.
Please, Deputies.
What I am concerned about is that there should be no——
If Deputy Brady would resign——
Deputy McDowell asked a question and he should be gracious enough to listen to the reply.
I am concerned that there should be no disruption of the whole process of local government or the implementation of Fianna Fáil policy at local level, particularly in view of the antics of some of the parties in this House.