Patrick McCartan
Question:10 Mr. McCartan asked the Taoiseach if he will consider the appointment of a Minister of State at the Department of Justice.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Appointment of Minister of State.
I have no such plans at present.
Is the Taoiseach aware that since the appointment of a current Minister he has had on six occasions to rely upon Ministers and Ministers of State at other Departments to represent his interests in important debates in this House? Would the Taoiseach not accept that there is such a workload resting on the shoulders of the Minister for Justice both inside and outside the House that he could be ably assisted by the appointment of a Minister of State?
It is a question of distributing scarce resources.
That is true.
We have the maximum number of Ministers of State. I know they are all fully, advantageously, effectively and successfully engaged——
In county councils elsewhere.
——in discharging their existing portfolios. I would be very reluctant to remove one of them from an existing portfolio to the Department of Justice, particularly in view of the excellent, really fantastic job the Minister for Justice is doing.
Is the Taoiseach aware that on 11 occasions the Minister for Justice has been unable to attend important debates at important stages of legislation in this House, leaving all of the spokespersons in the Opposition quite frustrated? I am not being mischievous. I am asking if the Taoiseach can explain why the Minister in the first instance was given two portfolios without a Minister of State in either Department to assist him.
This is a very long question. Let us have brevity.
The Deputy's party will be familiar with double jobbing.
Would the Taoiseach reflect on the need which is emerging from the record of the House for the appointment of a Minister of State or the rearranging of portfolios to assist in a very important area of work?
I have nothing further to add.
The Taoiseach is being flippant. Does he not accept that it was utter folly on his part to combine the portfolios of Justice and Communications so that effectively we have a part-time Minister for Justice? The effects are all around us. The Legal Aid Board have been virtually closed down. The Garda Síochána Complaints Board have closed their doors and the Land Registry are in chaos.
Let us not attempt to debate this matter now. It is not in order.
Would the Taoiseach not accept that it was utter folly on his part to leave us in the situation where we have a part-time Minister for Justice?
This will come as a surprise to the Deputy, no, I would not agree.
The results indicate otherwise.