Ruairí Quinn
Question:330 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment if he will set out the legislative and administrative priorities of his Department following his appointment as Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Ministerial Policy.
It is my objective to secure the enactment, before the summer recess, of the Environmental Protection Agency Bill, the Roads Bill, the Local Government (Planning and Development) Bill and the Control of Dogs (Amendment) Bill, all of which are in progress in this House, together with the Electoral (No. 2) Bill, 1990 which is before the Seanad. I will shortly be presenting the Housing Bill, 1991 to the House and I hope that this Bill, and a Road Traffic Bill which I hope to present after the Easter recess, will also be enacted before the summer recess.
As regards other priorities, my intention is to build on the achievements of the last few years in the wide range of policy areas for which my Department is responsible and to develop all of the services and programmes involved. I will be announcing specific measures and initiatives at the appropriate time.
Ruairí Quinn
Question:331 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline the precise actions he intends to take now to promote equality within his Department in general and in particular to promote qualified women to higher posts within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I fully endorse, and my Department implements, the equal opportunity policy and guidelines for the Civil Service issued by the Minister for Finance in 1986, including the provisions concerning promotion.
Ruairí Quinn
Question:332 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment if he will define the new and existing responsibilities of the Ministers of State within his Department following the recent changes in the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Minister of State Harney will continue to have special responsibility for the office for the protection of the Environment. Minister of State Wallace will initially have general responsibility for housing and urban renewal. I will be assigning additional specific responsibilities to the two Ministers of State from time to time.