asked the Taoiseach in respect of each of the following (1) Mr. Bertie Ahern, TD, Minister for Labour, (2) Mr. Vincent Brady, TD (3) Mr. Michael Smith, TD (4) Mr. Joe Walsh, TD (5) Mr. Seán McCarthy, TD (6) Mr. Ger Connolly, TD (7) Mr. Terry Leyden, TD (8) Mr. Pat the Cope Gallagher, TD (9) Mr. Denis Lyons, TD (10) Mr. Frank Fahey, TD (11) Mr. Noel Treacy, TD (12) Mrs. Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, TD and (13) any other members of the Government, the special consideration which justifies their continuing membership of local authorities and health boards.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Authority and Health Board Membership.
3.
I understand that the continuing membership of the bodies in question arises from concern to avoid causing any untimely disruption of the important business of local administration.
The Taoiseach cannot find suitable replacements.
Has the Taoiseach discussed with any members of his Cabinet or any Ministers of State the likely timing of their resignations from local authorities, or has he secured from them any commitments that they will obey the standing principle of this House which the Taoiseach himself announced on 3 March last and said applied to this Government? That was that Ministers and Ministers of State should, as soon as conveniently possible after their appointment, relinquish their membership of local authorities unless there was a short period of their office as members of a local authority still outstanding or, alternatively, unless there were some special considerations. Clearly, there is not a short period of their term of office on local authorities outstanding. Therefore, the question must arise in relation to each of them of what special consideration applies. Special means special to each of them and not special to members of the Taoiseach's party when in Government. Does the Taoiseach abide by a constitutional convention? If he expects other people to abide by it, he should do so himself on this occasion and root these members out of the local authorities.
Deputy, please, that is a very long question.
I shall continue my efforts.
I wish the Taoiseach better luck in future.