Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 Nov 1994

Vol. 446 No. 7

Written Answers. - Ministerial Responsibility.

Phil Hogan

Question:

118 Mr. Hogan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if any of the civil servants in his Department who have undertaken the MSc programme in public sector management have taken any recent initiatives or actions which might affect the principle that Ministers remain responsible for all aspects of the business of their Departments and must answer to Dáil Éireann for them. [2946/94]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

No civil servant in my Department or the Office of the Tánaiste has taken any initiative or action of the kind mentioned by the Deputy. The principle to which the Deputy refers could be changed only by amending the Ministers and Secretaries Acts 1924-83 under which Departments of State operate.