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Ministerial Responsibilities

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 June 2011

Tuesday, 28 June 2011

Questions (522)

Nicky McFadden

Question:

551 Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the specific roles and responsibilities of the Ministers of State in his Department. [17059/11]

View answer

Written answers

The Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1977 sets out the statutory framework within which powers are delegated to Ministers of State. Under the relevant legislation, the powers of Ministers of State are subject to the superintendence of a Minister of Government and can be revoked at any time.

The following extracts are particularly relevant:

(d) every statutory power and duty delegated by the delegation shall be exercisable and performed by such Minister of State in his own name but subject to the general superintendence and control of the Minister of the Government on whose request it was made and subject to any conditions or restrictions stated in the delegation,

(e) every statutory power or duty delegated by the delegation shall, notwithstanding the delegation, continue to be vested in the Minister of the Government on whose request the delegation was made but shall be so vested concurrently with such Minister of State and so as to be capable of being exercised or performed by either such Minister of the Government or such Minister of State, and

(f) the delegation shall not remove or derogate from the responsibility of the Minister of the Government on whose request it was made to Dáil Éireann or as a member of the Government for the exercise or performance of the statutory powers and duties thereby delegated.

I am aided in my duties by Ministers of State Michael Ring and Alan Kelly.

Minister of State Michael Ring has responsibility in the areas of tourism and sport with a particular focus on:

Domestic tourism, marketing, and the Home Holiday campaign.

Sports tourism events.

Cultural tourism, festivals and other tourism-generating events.

The Sports Capital Programme.

The National Sports Facility Strategy.

Engagement with the Irish Sports Council and Local Sports Partnerships on promoting participation in sport, recreation and physical activity.

Chairing the High Level Co-Ordinating Group which is identifying opportunities that might arise from the proximity of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The European agenda on sport, including attendance at Council of Ministers when sports issues are discussed.

Minister of State Kelly has responsibility in the areas of public transport, commuting and sustainability functions with a particular focus upon:

Real Time Passenger Information and Integrated Ticketing.

Rural Transport policy including the pursuit of integration with other local transport services in line with the Programme for Government commitment.

The Review of taxi regulation and organisation of the Taxi Forum in line with Programme for Government commitments.

Responsibility for the National Sustainable Travel Office.

Overseeing Smarter Travel initiatives.

Re-establishing the NTA Advisory Council.

Integration between land use planning strategies and transport strategies.

Promotion of cycling and walking, workplace travel planning including the roll out of the city bike schemes as per the programme for government.

Accessibility issues in public transport.

Railway Safety Commission.

He will also be invovled and consulted on all ministerial decisions with regard to CIE (including the CIE companies) and the National Transport Authority (NTA).

Both Ministers have the following general responsibilities:

To provide support to me, as required, in the exercise of my functions across the Department including in relation to Oireachtas business, international commitments and attendance at public events.

Representation on the appropriate Cabinet sub committees. In the case of Minister Kelly this includes attendance at the Cabinet sub-committees on Economic Infrastructure and Climate Change.

To answer parliamentary questions in the areas to which they have been assigned specific responsibility.

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