John Bruton
Question:15 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if Delegation of Function Orders have been or will be made in respect of Ministers of State at his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Responsibilities of Ministers of State.
Proinsias De Rossa
Question:16 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Taoiseach if all the Ministers of State at his Department have been given clear indication of their areas of responsibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 16 together. The Government has made an order delegating my powers and duties in relation to the Central Statistics Office to Minister of State, Deputy Noel Dempsey, who is also Government Chief Whip. In addition, as I mentioned in the House on 12 January last, Minister of State, Deputy Dempsey and the Minister of State at the office of the Tánaiste, Deputy Eithne Fitzgerald, are jointly responsible for the implementation of the provisions of the Programme for a Partnership Government contained in the section "Broadening our Democracy".
Minister for State, Deputy Tom Kitt, is responsible, subject to the overall role of the Tánaise and Minister for Foreign Affairs, for the co-ordination of the Government's approach and policy in the European Community. In this regard, he chairs the standing interdepartmental European Co-ordination Committee of senior officials concerned with EC affairs.
Minister of State, Deputy Noel Treacy, was assigned responsibility for the establishment of the County Enterprise Partnership Boards, but this function is in the process of being transferred to the Minister for Enterprise and Employment.
There will be no more lollipops for the lads in Galway.
There was a time when the Deputy tried to get off the telephone fairly smartly.
(Interruptions.)
I think that the Minister of State, Deputy Treacy, is redundant. Has the Taoiseach delegated any functions to the office of the Tánaiste?
The office of the Tánaiste has been assigned overall responsibility for the New National Economic and Social Forum and the Government will be informed, through the Tánaiste's office, of the developments of that forum.
I wish to ask the Taoiseach whether the apparent dispute between the Minister for the Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht and the Minister of State, Deputy Dempsey, with regard to the heritage aspect of the Office of Public Works has been resolved and who is now responsible for that aspect of the Office of Public Works?
I remind the House that there is a separate question tabled on that matter.
There are subsequent questions on that subject.
It is a valid question.
The Taoiseach said that the office of Tánaiste will be responsible for the National Economic and Social Forum. He also said that the Tánaiste will be responsible for a separate Vote. Could I ask the Taoiseach if the NESF will be included in the Tánaiste's Vote and if that will involve sub-division of the present Vote of the Office of the Taoiseach?
The Deputy seems overly concerned with the Office of the Taoiseach and its responsibilities under the Constitution. I assure him that there will be no change in the constitutional duties of the Taoiseach. I made that abundantly clear on a number of occasions. If the Deputy does not want to accept that, I cannot help him any further.
Could I ask a specific question?
I gave the Deputy the answer but he did not like it.
Will there be a separate Vote for the National Economic and Social Forum under the Office of the Tánaiste or the Taoiseach? If it is under the Tánaiste's office does that mean that some of the Vote of the Taoiseach will now be provided for in a separate Vote in the Book of Estimates to be published next week? Will there be a separate Vote for the National Economic and Social Forum in the Book of Estimates under the aegis of the Tánaiste or will it be under the aegis of the Taoiseach?
I have already stated clearly that there will be a Vote for the Office of the Tánaiste. I have already stated clearly that none of the functions of the Taoiseach will be interfered with and I can assure the Deputy that none of the Estimates of the Taoiseach is being given away to any body as he suggests.
Have all the necessary orders been made transferring functions to the Minister for Equality from the Department of Justice for civil reform, from the Department of Labour, from the Department of Environment for the care of travellers and from the Department of Health for the care of the disabled? Have all those orders been signed yet and, if not, when will they be signed?
That is a rather omnibus question.
That is the subject matter of a subsequent question on the Order Paper.
In relation to the Vote for the office of the Tánaiste, which Accounting Officer will be responsible for the funds to the Comptroller and Auditor General?
I do not know from where this question arises.
I would prefer it if specific questions were tabled in relation to this matter. We are getting into detail.
That was a hard question.
(Carlow-Kilkenny): In view of what we have heard today so far, that we have 15 Ministers, 15 Ministers of State, 15 special advisers to watch the Ministers and Deputy Fitzgerald watching the Taoiseach to make sure money is left for the Tánaiste, would it be cheaper to call in the CIA?
I am now proceeding to Question No. 17. I advise the House that I shall proceed to deal with Priority Questions at 3.30 p.m. sharp in order to conform with Standing Orders.