Vol. 427 No. 6
271 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Health the number of people who are members of Fianna Fáil or the Labour Party appointed by him and the Minister(s) of State at his Department since assuming office; and the position held by each of these people in the relevant political party.
I assume that the Deputy is referring to the four temporary appointments which I have made to my Department since taking office last January. Three of the four people concerned are members of the Labour Party; their selection for these posts was made on the basis of their ability, experience and commitment to the Programme for a Partnership Government and not on any other basis. Two of them have worked for me for a period of several years.
