Micheál Martin
Question:59. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the changes to staffing and to the salaries of advisers in his Department since 1 March 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14510/16]
View answerTuesday, 21 June 2016
Questions (59, 60, 65)
Micheál Martin
Question:60. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the changes he will implement in the structure and responsibilities of his Department subsequent to the formation of the new Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14511/16]
View answer
Brendan Howlin
Question:65. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach his plans for the staffing and structure of his Department. [15845/16]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 59, 60 and 65 together.
The Department of the Taoiseach's core role will continue to be supporting me, the Government and the Ministers of State in the Department in relation to all our domestic, EU and international responsibilities, and driving implementation of the new Programme for a Partnership Government.
The Programme for Government Office, based in my Department, will continue to monitor implementation of Programme for Government commitments across all Government Departments and regularly report progress to me. The structures used to advance the Government’s key priorities will include Cabinet Committees; bi-laterals with relevant Ministers; and regular engagement at official level between the Programme for Government Office and Government Departments.
Taking account of the need to maintain a new relationship between the Oireachtas and the Government, the Office of the Chief Whip will have an expanded role in terms of more active management of all aspects of the legislative process, working with Government Departments and the Houses of the Oireachtas. As part of this process, the Chief Whip's Office will work closely with a new Parliamentary Liaison Unit and the Programme for Government Office which will track progress across all policy and legislative commitments.
Minister of State Murphy's portfolio has been expanded to include the EU Digital Single Market, in addition to responsibility for EU Affairs and Data Protection.
My Department no longer has responsibility at Ministerial level for International Financial Services. The member of staff who has been working full-time on International Financial Services will shortly transfer to the Department of Finance.
In relation to my role as Minister for Defence, Deputy Paul Kehoe has been appointed as Minister of State with special responsibility for the Department of Defence and will attend Government meetings. I signed the Defence (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2016 on 14th June 2016.
The outcome of the UK referendum on EU Membership may also have structural implications for my Department.
The resource implications of the above and other Programme for Government commitments for which my Department has direct responsibility for implementing will be addressed in the context of the Estimates process.
There have been no changes to the staffing and salaries of advisers in my Department since 1 March, 2016. There are currently five Special Advisers employed in my Department, four of whom are my Special Advisers and one of whom is Special Adviser to the Government Chief Whip.