Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 Nov 1994

Vol. 446 No. 7

Written Answers. - Ministerial Responsibility.

Phil Hogan

Question:

137 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for the Marine 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]

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Andrews)

No civil servant in the Department has as yet undertaken the MSc programme in question. I can add, however, that no civil servant in the Department 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 to 1983 under which Departments of State operate.