Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 December 2012
1. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the number of non-party political events which he has attended in each month during 2012 which have been handled by the protocol section of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47363/12]
View answer2. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach the role of the protocol section of his Department in organising non-party political events. [55213/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.
The table sets out the information sought by the Deputy up to the end of November 2012. It has been the long-standing practice for the protocol section to assist the Taoiseach in regard to his or her official domestic engagements. This involves liaising with event organisers on a programme for the event and subsequently attending the event in order to ensure its organisation is, from the Taoiseach's perspective, in keeping with the dignity of the office.
None of the staff in the protocol section has any involvement in engagements of a party political nature attended by me, nor is it the practice for them to attend events in my constituency other than those of national significance.
Taoiseach's domestic engagements involving protocol section 2012
|
Month |
Number of Engagements |
|
January |
8 |
|
February |
29 |
|
March |
17 |
|
April |
24 |
|
May |
30 |
|
June |
26 |
|
July |
24 |
|
August |
6 |
|
September |
39 |
|
October |
26 |
|
November |
22 |
|
Total |
251 |
I have not yet seen the table referred to in the reply. It is a good thing for a Taoiseach to make himself or herself available for a large number of events, but there is an important question as to whether this Taoiseach is focusing on events where he will not be challenged in any significant way. Last Sunday, for example, the Society of the Irish Motor Industry said it was thrilled by the unprecedented level of access which it has had to the Taoiseach's office. Its representatives were very happy to be able to influence the budget in this way.
Will the Taoiseach explain why he did not give the same level of access to any group involved in respite and caring issues? The disgraceful and avoidable cuts, in particular to the carer's respite grant, announced last week could have been avoided if the Taoiseach had spent less time on photo opportunities and more time talking to people, such as those in the carers' groups. It is not about publishing fine reports and strategies but about what it is like on the ground for someone looking after a loved one at home, perhaps a person with a physical or intellectual disability. It is about getting a real sense of what the cut in the respite grant means to these people, both in terms of their weekly income and the degree to which they are valued as key members of our society who are doing exceptional work and thereby preventing the State having to intervene at an early stage.
In my view, the Taoiseach's focus is wrong and is more about photo opportunities than dealing with the groups who are bearing the brunt of the attacks reflected in the budget.
I am not sure what the Deputy is getting at. I do not recall meeting the Society of the Irish Motor Industry for photographs. The table I have details 251 engagements, from January to the end of November. Most of them involved issues of employment and job opportunities. As the Deputy knows, one goes to Cork or Clare or wherever, where there is a list of invitations to attend other events but one cannot be at all of them. During the course of the year, I met a number of caring organisations and groups who deal with the elderly, young people or very young children. It is not a case of not wanting to meet any of these groups. The actual responsibilities clearly rest with the Ministers and Ministers of State in question who are involved in the issues on a full-time basis. As the occasion arises and if an opportunity presents itself for me to meet groups or organisations, I am only too happy to oblige. However, one can never get around to meeting as many as one would want to, nor does one wish to take from the important work Ministers and Ministers of State have to engage with in the performance of their duties.
The Taoiseach stated he had a table of these events. Perhaps he might give us a random example of the type of non-party political events the protocol department is involved in organising.
In November, for example, I opened the new UCD student centre; attended the European Parliament conference of presidents of the EU; had an EPP meeting in Government Buildings; launched an event celebrating 50 years of the Arts Council's collection and marking 60 years of the Arts Council; opened the Riverbank Centre; attended the official opening of Croí House in Galway which does such important work in heart research and assisting patients; attended the official reopening of the community centre in Galway, which was also attended by many others. I attended the ceremony for the presidential distinguished service awards to the Irish abroad. In addition, and apart from the preparations for the EU Presidency, I met different Prime Ministers and ambassadors. As an example of a non-political issue, I launched the archives of the Lensmen organisation, featuring photographs from 1950. The archive has more than 3 million photographs, taken from the 1960s to the 1980s. There is a whole range of non-political events one attends in the course of one's duty.
As to anything I might have time to attend in my constituency, the protocol section of the Department of the Taoiseach does not involve itself in anything of a local political nature, nor does it attend at party political events that may arise. Over the years it has never been the function of that section to involve itself in or attend at any such functions.
I have not seen the table but appreciate it is normal and therefore do not complain about it. I will look at it later. However, I am conscious that the Justice for the Forgotten group has made numerous attempts to seek a meeting with the Taoiseach. It represents relatives of victims of the worst atrocities that occurred during the Troubles in Dublin and Monaghan. Last week was the 40th anniversary of the 1972 bombings. These people are at a loss to explain why the Taoiseach will not meet them. I tabled this issue in Question No. 31 but as we may not get that far today I would appreciate if the Taoiseach were to give a commitment to meet that group. He has met with other groups on the island and this group deserves to be met although so far it has only had refusals. I find that unacceptable and inexplicable so I ask the Taoiseach to reconsider, reflect on it and perhaps agree to meet the Justice for the Forgotten group.
I will. The impediment is time. I commit to meeting the Justice for the Forgotten group. I have a number of groups to meet and have no difficulty with this one. I hope we may be able to do this early in the new year.
I have a letter from the Taoiseach's Department refusing a meeting with Justice for the Forgotten. I am glad he has changed his mind. I raised the matter recently with the Taoiseach in the Chamber but he did not seem to know much about it. I would also have appreciated the opportunity to pursue the possibility of a meeting with people from Ballymurphy. I thank the Taoiseach for his answer. It is good that he will meet the Justice for the Forgotten group.
At the risk of being ruled out of order I give notice to the Ceann Comhairle, fraternally and respectfully, that under the Order of Business I intend to return to my request that the Taoiseach withdraw his remark.
I like to think we can meet as many groups as is possible. As I observed to Deputy Martin, we will make arrangements to meet the Justice for the Forgotten group. If there are particular issues that Deputies Martin or Adams wish to raise before I do so I would be happy to hear from either of them. I reiterate I have asked my Department to pencil in a time and date for a meeting with the members of the Ballymurphy community, arising from the incidents that occurred there many years ago.
