Vol. 426 No. 5
2 Mr. Dukes asked the Taoiseach the occasions since the formation of the Government on which he has been represented by the Tánaiste; the functions the Tánaiste has carried out on his behalf; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Article 28.6 of the Constitution sets out the circumstances in which the Tánaiste shall act in the place of the Taoiseach. The Tánaiste has not carried out any functions on my behalf.
Has the Tánaiste chaired any meeting of the Cabinet in the absence of the Taoiseach?
The Taoiseach has not been absent from any Cabinet meeting.
That is wonderful; it is very comforting to hear that. Would the Taoiseach not agree that the chairing of Cabinet meetings in the absence of the Taoiseach, and the other matters to which the Taoiseach has drawn attention, represents the full constitutional extent of the Tánaiste's functions?
If the occasion arises — I do not foresee that it will arise but one can never be certain — where the Taoiseach is absent from a Cabinet meeting what the Deputy has put would certainly take place.
Now that we have established that Deputy Spring has not carried out any functions as Tánaiste since the Government was set up, would the Taoiseach not agree that it is outrageous to spend £800,000 a year for the privilege of having somebody who is doing nothing?
Shame.
We are having an injection of new matter.
The Taoiseach has just recalled to us the Tánaiste's constitutional duties. He has just said that since this Government was set up the Tánaiste has not been asked to carry out any such constitutional duties and yet the Taoiseach is proposing that we spend £800,000.
This is Question Time.
I am asking the Taoiseach would he not agree that that is an outrageous and scandalous waste of money, yes or no?
Is it now official Government policy for the Taoiseach to become invisible when there is bad news? In relation to the designated joint responsibilities, when the official weekly briefing of political correspondents resumes, is it proposed that these will be joint briefings with both the Taoiseach and Tánaiste present or when the Taoiseach is sick or absent from the country will the Tánaiste do the briefings?
Consultation.
Who is the Ayatollah?
I am amazed at the deep concern Deputy Higgins shows about the future wellbeing of the Taoiseach or the Tánaiste. However, he can be assured that if I am working in my office the long hours which I work and if somebody describes that as being invisible, well so be it, but I will continue to do the job I was elected to do.
It is dangerous to be invisible.
(Limerick East): The Taoiseach must now be engaged in second page activities.
Will the Taoiseach lead by example and, perhaps, consider job sharing with the Tánaiste to give him a role in this Government?
Let us be serious.
The Tánaiste has more than enough work to do——
As Tánaiste?
——and the Taoiseach has more than enough work to do. That is the way it will remain.
What does he do as Tánaiste?
