asked the Taoiseach the new areas of responsibility which have been allocated to his Department; the number of extra civil servants who have been deployed as a result and the plans, if any, he has to increase his own Department.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Departmental Staff.
12.
The only change in the responsibilities of my Department has been the strengthening of the co-ordination of European Community matters which already existed in my Department through the Ministerial Committee on EC affairs. I indicated in the House on 10 March last that I proposed that a Minister of State of my Department would be specially concerned, among other duties, with the EC co-ordination carried out by the existing Ministerial Committee. The Government subsequently appointed Deputy Máire Geoghegan-Quinn to this post of Minister of State.
One additional civil servant has been transferred on loan to my Department to work in the office of a Minister of State.
Might I ask the Taoiseach what Department has responsibility for the Anglo-Irish Agreement?
That seems to be very specifically a separate question.
Anglo-Irish relations are a matter for the Government as a whole.
Has the Taoiseach opportioned that responsibility to his own Department or is it still regarded as a project for the Department of Foreign Affairs?
Anglo-Irish relations, of which the Anglo-Irish Agreement forms a very significant part, are a matter for the Government as a whole. The Department of the Taoiseach will be involved as will the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Justice and a number of other Departments. It is something that can be conducted only by the Government as a Government.
Who has specific responsibility for the continuation of the Anglo-Irish Agreement?
The Government.
Would the Taoiseach say what appointments have been made from outside the ranks of the Civil Service to his Department since he took office?
I beg the Deputy's pardon.
What appointments have been made from outside the ranks of the Civil Service to the Taoiseach's Department since he took office?
In this connection?
I think the Deputy is broadening the scope of the question.
None.
I am asking the Taoiseach, first, whether any appointments have been made to his Department from outside the ranks of the Civil Service and, second, if such appointments have been made, how many, and I am then going to ask him what duties those people perform.
There is a Written Question down on that matter today. At this stage I would be glad to assure the Deputy that any appointments made from outside the Civil Service by this Government are minuscule compared with those made by the Deputy's Government.
Might we be told exactly what advisory appointments have been made?
If the Deputy will put down a question I will answer it.
That is the question down but the Taoiseach is not answering it.
The question deals specifically with the number of extra civil servants who have been deployed as a result of the new areas of responsibility allocated to my Department. I have given the answer that one civil servant only was transferred on loan to my Department to work in the office of a Minister of State as a result of the co-ordination activities assigned to that Minister of State.