asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he has plans in hand to reorganise Gorta so that they can make the maximum efforts to bring help to the needy nations with which the organisation have been dealing.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Gorta Reorganisation.
5.
I am not planning a reorganisation of Gorta at present. The term of office of the present council of the organisation will expire in March. I shall, therefore, soon be writing to the organisations who are represented on the council asking them to nominate representatives for a further period.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary envisage any major changes in the organisation so that they may really play a part in dealing with the ever-increasing demands on their resources? We could have a more specific statement on Gorta.
I think the statement made was sufficient to answer the question. As the Deputy knows, the council of Gorta are composed of 56 members, 47 of whom are nominees of various representative bodies such as the churches, political parties, farming organisations, trade unions and so on. Consequently, they constitute almost four-fifths of the total membership of the council. It is a matter for the council to formulate new policies if they think this is advisable and to have them approved. I am sure such policies would be implemented by the executive committee of the council. As the Deputy is aware, even though the Minister is president of Gorta his role is purely a formal one.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary consider that Gorta are as active as they were in the past?
I assume they are. I have no information to the contrary.