Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 26 Jan 1983

Vol. 339 No. 4

Appointment of Minister of State and Allocation of Responsibilities: Announcement by Taoiseach.

The Taoiseach

A Cheann Comhairle, I beg leave to announce, for the information of the Dáil, (1) that, on the 7th of January 1983, the Government appointed Deputy Nuala Fennell, Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, to be Minister of State at the Department of Justice also; and (2) that, on the same date, in addition to the responsibilities already allocated to Ministers of State namely:

Seán Barrett,Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and at the Department of Defence,	—Government Chief Whip,
Nuala Fennell,Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach	—Women's Affairs and Family Law Reform
and
Ted Nealon,Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach,	—Arts and Culture,

the Government decided that the responsibilities indicated hereunder should be allocated to the following Ministers of State:

Ruairí Quinn,Minister of State at the Department of the Environment,	—Urban Affairs and Housing,
Jim O'Keeffe,Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs,	—Overseas Development,
Paddy Hegarty,Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture,	—Production,
Paul Connaughton,Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture,	—Land Structure and Development,
Joseph Bermingham,Minister of State at the Department of Finance,	—The Office of Public Works,
Edward Collins,Minister of State at the Department of Industry and Energy,	—Energy Affairs,
John Donnellan,Minister of State at the Department of Transport and at the Department of Posts and Telegraphs,	—Posts and Telegraphs Services,
Michael Moynihan,Minister of State at the Department of Trade, Commerce and Tourism,	—Tourism
George Birmingham,Minister of State at the Department of Labour,	—Youth Affairs,
Fergus O'Brien,Minister of State at the Department of Health and at the Department of Social Welfare,	—Public Health and Social Welfare Information,
Donal Creed,Minister of State at the Department of Education	—School Buildings and Sport
and
Michael D'Arcy,Minister of State at the Department of Fisheries and Forestry and at the Department of the Gaeltacht.	—Fisheries and Forestry.

The exercise of these responsibilities will, in accordance with statute and practice, be subject to the general superintendence and control of the Minister of the Government in charge of the Department, who will remain fully responsible for all the Departmental powers and duties.

Mr. Haughey

A small point, Sir. It would have been a matter of courtesy if the Taoiseach had let us know he was going to make this announcement.

The Taoiseach

I regret that that was not done.

Mr. Molloy

On a point of clarification, did I hear the Taoiseach say that the responsibilities of Deputy Ruairí Quinn, Minister of State at the Department of the Environment are urban affairs and housing?

The Taoiseach

Yes.

Mr. Molloy

Therefore, he does not have any responsibility for local improvement schemes which we were discussing today. I notice that the Minister for the Environment is here but he did not take those questions.

An Ceann Comhairle

That is another matter.

Mr. Molloy

Am I to take it that the Minister of State, Deputy Quinn, is not responsible for allocations to county councils of money for roads, local improvement schemes, county road improvements and so on?

The Taoiseach

The responsibilities have been allocated as I have stated. Naturally in accordance with practice, the Minister of State can and does stand in for his Minister replying to questions.

Mr. Molloy

When the Minister of State was answering we were not clear if he was standing in for his Minister or replying in his own right.

The Taoiseach

I regret that and I appreciate that the Deputy was at a disadvantage in that respect, but the formal announcement had to be made at this stage and I regret a copy was not given to the Leader of the Opposition.

Mr. Haughey

That is a little unsatisfactory because I had a question down about the allocation of functions and the Taoiseach answered it without reference to the fact that a few minutes later he would be making this announcement.

The Taoiseach

The Deputy's question referred to the transfer of functions, not the allocation of functions. It would not have been appropriate for me to give him this information at that stage, although I was prepared and able to do so.

Mr. Haughey

I will leave that to the discretion of the House. It is a little insensitive of the Taoiseach not to have given me notice when answering that question or in some other way that this announcement would be made today.

Mr. Lenihan

"Allocation" is the word in question.

An Ceann Comhairle

Has Deputy Mac Giolla a short question?

Mr. Mac Giolla

Níl sé soiléir ón liosta seo cén Aire a bhfuil cúram aige do chúrsaí Gaeilge. An é ag Aire na Gaeltachta nó ag an Aire Oideachais? An bhfuil éinne leagtha amach go bhfuil an cúram aige?

The Taoiseach

Those responsibilities have not been delegated to any Minister of State, therefore it does not arise at this point. There has been no change in that respect.

Mr. Mac Giolla

Níl sé soiléir ón liosta seo nó ó liosta na nAirí a tugadh dúinn cheana cá bhfuil cúram na Gaeilge anois. An bhfuil sé ag Aire na Gaeltachta nó ag an Aire Oideachais?

An Taoiseach

Aire na Gaeltachta, mar a bhí cheana.

Mr. Haughey

Leis an Aire Oideachais freisin.