Vol. 406 No. 1
1 Mr. Bell asked the Taoiseach if he will outline (1) the division of responsibilities of his Ministers of State and (2) the overseeing role that they hold, if any, for State boards or committees operating within the aegis of his Department.
There are two Ministers of State at my Department. Deputy Vincent Brady, is the Government Chief Whip and Minister of State for heritage affairs, with general responsibility for the National Heritage Council. Deputy Máire Geoghegan-Quinn has a monitoring and co-ordinating role in relation to Government policy and in particular European Community matters and all aspects of policy as they affect women.
Will the Taoiseach not accept that with the wide range of boards and committees operating under his Department, for example, the National Archives, Irish Manuscripts Commission, the National Concert Hall, Council of Arts and so on it is time to consider delegation by means of statutory action to his Ministers of State?
No. The Deputy can be assured that we are working perfectly fruitfully, happily, co-operatively and all is for the best in all possible worlds.
