Dermot Ahern
Ceist:122 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Social Welfare the duties required to be carried out by each of the persons recently appointed by him to his policy unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3262/96]
Written Answers. - Policy Unit Appointments.
Dermot Ahern
Ceist:123 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Social Welfare if any of the five people recently employed on his behalf in the policy unit will be privy to a memorandum or proposals to Government; if any of these people have been involved in sub-committees or committees appointed by the Government to discuss issues of policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3263/96]
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 122 and 123 together.
I refer the Deputy to my replies to Parliamentary Questions No. 124 of 14 December 1995 and Nos. 19 and 21 of 23 January 1996. As I have previously indicated, the purpose of the Research Unit is to enable me, as a Party Leader in Government, to contribute optimally to the formulation of Government policy across the spectrum of social, economic and fiscal issues.
The research unit provides research, analysis and advice on policy issues which arise outside my departmental responsibilities.
As temporary unestablished civil servants each of the persons concerned is subject to the Official Secrets Act. Any access to departmental or Government material is governed by this. As their role is to facilitate my contribution to the analysis and formulation of policy, individual members of the Research Unit may, under my direction and on my behalf, be asked by me to analyse and report to me on memoranda or proposals to Government on a case by case basis in accordance with standard practice.
None of the unestablished staff of the Research Unit has been involved in a subcommittee or committee appointed by the Cabinet to discuss issues of Government policy.