Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 10 Nov 1977

Vol. 301 No. 5

Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 1977: Committee and Final Stages.

Question proposed: "That section 1 stand part of the Bill."

Mr. P. Barry

Subsection (2) states:

... Minister of State in office at the date of a dissolution of Dáil Éireann shall continue to hold office until the successor of the Taoiseach who was in office on such date shall have been appointed.

Up to now Parliamentary Secretaries went out of office and lost their cars and their salaries on the dissolution of the Dáil. Does that mean that the new Ministers of State will not lose their salaries or their cars while the election is going on after the dissolution of the Dáil?

Minister for the Public Service (Mr. Colley)

That is right.

Mr. Kerrigan

That could be classified as discrimination against the ordinary Members of the House.

Mr. Colley

On Second Stage I explained the reason behind that.

Question put and agreed to.

Sections 2 and 3 agreed to.

SECTION 4.

Question proposed: "That section 4 stand part of the Bill."

Mr. P. Barry

What will we call the new Ministers of State in the House? Will we address everybody as Minister or do we address the Tánaiste as Tánaiste, the next man as Minister of the Government and the others as Ministers of State?

Mr. Colley

It is a rather lengthy title. It would be the Minister of State at the Department for whatever it is. I am sure we will evolve some suitable title.

Question put and agreed to.

Sections 5 and 6 agreed to.

Title agreed to.

Bill reported without amendments and passed.