Vol. 430 No. 5
12 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if full and final agreement has been reached between the respective Ministers/Departments regarding allocation and division of responsibilities; if any discussions are ongoing or pending on such matters; if any transfer of staff is still awaited; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Transfers of functions between Ministers and Departments resulting from the reorganisations of Government Departments announced by the Taoiseach on 12 January 1993 have been effected through a series of Orders under section 6 (1) of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act, 1939 or, where non-statutory functions are concerned by administrative action. No proposals for further such transfers are before the Government.
All transfers of staff, in consquence of such reorganisations, have been settled and have either been effected or are in train.
I am sorry the Minister is answering this question because I sought an answer from the Taoiseach. Did he have a particular role to play in making the order?
Wherever there was a dispute, conflict, difference of opinion or misunderstanding I arbitrated between my colleagues.
Following the abolition of the Department of Economic Planning and Development was that divisional responsibility given to the Department of Finance or the Department of the Taoiseach and where does it now rest?
The economic unit is within the Department of Finance while some of the functions under the Central Review Committee are still in the Taoiseach's Department.
Since the Minister has undertaken the role of Mr. Fixit for the Government can he indicate what precise responsibilities have been transferred to the Minister for Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Taylor, in relation to law reform?
If any.
What precise aspect of law reform has he charge of because he does not appear to have a very crowded agenda?
He is the Rights Commissioner.
There was no question of anyone being a Mr. Fixit. There were extensive changes in Departments and in their structures. The Department of Finance had responsibility for drafting the new orders. Naturally, matters in relation to staff movement and premises had to be dealt with by the Department of Finance. So far as I know a question in regard to the functions of each Minister was answered recently. I had an input into that reply but I am not sure whether it included the Minister for Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Taylor. As the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Eithne Fitzgerald, said earlier, Minister Taylor is doing an excellent job on behalf of the Government in the area of equality. If the Deputy wishes to table a question to him I am sure he would be only too glad to spell out the excellent work he is doing.
Did the Minister offer his services as a mediator or was he asked to act as a mediator in the discussions which took place between the various Ministers? Was agreement in relation to the devolution of responsibilities reached before during or after the Government's announcement in relation to the national development plan?
The national development plan is co-ordinated within the Department of Finance by my colleague the Minister of State. The Department of Finance drafts the other orders and because of the related financial costs they are connected with the Department of Finance. That section of the former Department of the Public Service is now in the Department of Finance and that is the reason it falls to the Minister for Finance to make these changes.
The Minister has given a non-answer, and did not answer the other question.
I do not understand the Deputy's point. The national development plan is co-ordinated by the Department of Finance——
Perhaps the Minister misunderstood me. I asked whether he offered his services as a mediator or if he was asked to undertake to provide the service?
It was my responsibility.
The other question, which I possibly did not make clear and for which I apologise, was at what stage agreement was reached on the devolution of responsibilities. Was it at, before or after the announcements of the national development plan?
The national development plan refers only to the Department of Finance.
What about the implementation of the Culliton report?
All the draft and amended orders were made before the announcement on the Culliton report.
Will the Minister confirm whether the new apprenticeship board is the responsibility of the Minister for Education or the Minister for Enterprise and Employment?
It is a separate question, but I understand it to be the responsibility of the Minister for Enterprise and Employment. I am subject to correction on that.
