asked the Minister for Education if he will furnish details of the responsibilities assumed by Mr. James Tunney, TD (a) before and (b) after his appointment as Minister of State at the Department of Education.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Minister of State's Responsibilities.
14.
The Minister of State at the Department of Education has had, both before and after his appointment, responsibility for the Institutions of Science and Art, for Youth and Sport, for Special Schools, and for School Transport and the Free Books Scheme.
In addition to these responsibilities, he will now give further support to the Minister as may be appropriate.
Would the Minister have information on the extra salary being paid to the Minister of State for these new responsibilities which apparently are incapable of definition?
That is a separate question.
That question has not been asked. It is a stupid question which is denigratory of an excellent Minister of State.
We were told that the heavier extra responsibilities which the new Ministers of State would assume are primarily responsible for the extra salaries they will get.
I can assure the Deputy that the Minister of State at the Department of Education is working harder than——
Than the Minister.
That may very well be. The Minister of State, with heavy burdens like school transport, is working harder than any other person I know of, and since he became Minister of State he has added to the duties that were already there in assisting me in dealing with deputations and so on.
I wish to ask a supplementary question. However, before doing so, I would assure Deputy Tunney that it is in no way directed at him but is a general question. Will the Minister accept that the Tánaiste, and Minister for the Public Service in his Dáil speech on 2 November last, by way of justifying the change of title of the seven Parliamentary Secretaries and the title that would be given to three further appointees, definitely assured the House that this heavier sounding title would be accompanied by the allocation of wider and heavier responsibilities to these office holders? Deputy Horgan has asked what the wider responsibilities are and the House has not been told.
I fully answered the Deputy in my formal reply and in reply to supplementaries. If the Deputies concerned took the trouble to study the advances made by the Minister of State since he took office, they would be under no illusion about the extra duties he has undertaken, duties in connection with developments that were promised by the previous administration and which were never delivered.
While accepting that Deputy Tunney works to the limits of his ability——
——and endurance, and his ability is great.
While accepting that, would the Minister appreciate that there is a difference between simply telling us that he is working harder than ever before, on the one hand, and enumerating the precise additional functions which have been allotted to him in consequence of the Tánaiste's promise last year?
I have already answered that question and, if the Deputy were not living in another world, he would know that Deputy Tunney, Minister of State, has done trojan work with regard to the sports council, work that had been lying in abeyance for over four-and-a-quarter years before Deputy Tunney took over.
Question No. 15.
But did the sports council not fall under his sphere of responsibility before the title was changed?
It did not exist until he created it.
But did the area of sport not fall within the responsibility of the Parliamentary Secretary?
It did not exist and, had there not been a change of Government, it still would not exist.
Would the Deputy allow the Minister to answer the next question? I have called the next question. Would the Deputy please resume his seat?
I must protest at the way I and other Deputies here are not allowed to ask supplementary questions. As soon as there are teeth lodged the Chair comes in and dislodges them.
I crave the protection of the Chair, the same protection the Deputy on the far side is looking for. I have an equal right to that protection. I resent insinuations that I am not prepared to answer questions raised by the Deputy either originally or by way of supplementary.
The Chair has no intention of protecting anybody except in so far as disorder affects the position. I will not permit Deputy Kelly or any other Deputy to abuse Question Time by making speeches or entering into arguments. There are many Deputies with many questions all of which must be answered and this growing practice of arrogance and absolutely ignoring the Chair will not be tolerated by me in the interests of decorum and the upholding of Standing Orders. Question No. 15.
On a point of order, I would like to ask you if the Minister has been made aware of your statement this morning in relation to the question I put down on the points system.
We finished with that this morning. It does not arise now in the middle of Question Time. I have called question No. 15.
Would the Chair allow me to make a comment?
The Chair will not. I have called Question No. 15. We cannot have a practice established whereby a Deputy gets up in the middle of Question Time and asks any old question at all.
That is not fair. We will not take that. I did not ask any old question at all. I asked questions arising directly out of the original question and I resent having my questions so described.
For once, I am not referring to Deputy Kelly. I am referring to Deputy E. Collins.
On a point of order, I did not ask any old question. I asked if the Minister was aware of the Ceann Comhairle's statement.
Question No. 15.