Ruairí Quinn
Question:143 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach if he will set out the legislative and administrative priorities of his Department following his appointment as Taoiseach; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Ministerial Policy.
The legislative and administrative priorities of my Department will be to continue to co-ordinate action within the broad framework of agreed Government policy as set out in the joint programme, the Programme for Economic and Social Progress and other key Government documents, such as the Budget, the Estimates and the EC Operational Programmes.
Ruairí Quinn
Question:144 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach 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.
It has been the policy of my Department to encourage and promote equality among staff on a progressive basis as is evident from the fact that 40 per cent of assistant principal officers, 27 per cent of higher executive officers and 70 per cent of executive officers are women.
My Department will implement all schemes and initiatives agreed by the Department of Finance for the promotion of equality in the Civil Service generally.
Ruairí Quinn
Question:145 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach 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.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Government recently appointed two Ministers of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Deputy Noel Dempsey (with responsibility as the Government Chief Whip) and Deputy Tom Kitt, (with responsibility for Arts and Culture, Women's Affairs and EC Affairs). The following sets out the position in relation to Minister Kitt's responsibilities:
As Minister of State for Arts and Culture, Deputy Kitt will be responsible for the implementation of general culture policy, the Arts Council, Cultural Institutions (the National Museum, the National Gallery, the National Library, the National Archives, the National Concert Hall, the Museum of Modern Art and the Chester Beatty Library) as well as grants to various projects in the cultural sphere.
As Minister of State with responsibility for Women's Affairs, Deputy Kitt will exercise a monitoring and co-ordinating role on all aspects of Government policy as they affect women. In carrying out these functions, the Minister of State will complement the activities of all Ministers in Government, who continue to have primary responsibility for advancing the status of Irish women in their own areas of responsibility.
As Minister of State with responsibility for EC Affairs, Deputy Kitt will deal with EC Affairs so far as my Department is concerned, and thus complement the work of Ministers who, in Government, have the primary responsibility for this work so far as their functional area is concerned.