Gay Mitchell
Ceist:2 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Taoiseach the duties of the Minister for State at his Department. [7743/02]
Ceisteanna – Questions. - Ministerial Duties.
The Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach is primarily responsible for the organisation of Government business in the Dáil and for the Government's programme for Dáil reform. He also oversees preparation of the Government's legislative programme and has responsibility for the Central Statistics Office.
The Taoiseach will be aware that in the previous Administration I had responsibility for co-ordinating European affairs at the Department of the Taoiseach as did Deputy Tom Kitt in the Administration before that. Will he agree there is a particularly difficult problem now in relation to immigration, for example, and various issues that transcend Departments from social welfare to health, housing, integration and anti-racism? Will he agree to study the possibility of extending the remit of the Minister of State at his Department to include co-ordination of immigrant affairs?
Deputy Mitchell is right in this.
Surely, the independence would be a wonderful qualification.
A number of issues have long been identified in the Public Service Management Act where cross-departmental work is becoming more relevant. It was all set out in the SMI reports from 1992 to 1997. Arising out of that there are a number of Cabinet sub-committees and interdepartmental committees. There is one committee under the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform comprising all the agencies under my chairmanship which meets about six times a year with all the agencies, reception and integration services, representatives of the health boards and all the Departments which deal with the asylum issue. The question the Deputy raises is whether that should be the responsibility of a Minister of State. There is no doubt it is an enormous and growing area across Departments. The processing section which had 20 people five years ago now has 730. The section has expanded rapidly and affects the Departments of Social, Community and Family Affairs, Education and Science and Health and Children. Presently, the co-ordination is done mainly by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Ministers of State in a few other Departments working together. Whether a Minister of State should be assigned to a number of Departments to drive it is a fair issue to look at. I am not sure whether that would be much more effective because at present the Ministers for Health and Children, Education and Science and Justice, Equality and Law Reform have to deal with the issue. It is an enormous task and takes up far more time than would have been the case even a year ago. It continues to grow.
The Taoiseach will be aware that the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs was appointed to two Departments – the Taoiseach's Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs – but chaired the European co-ordinating committee across all Departments and reported to the Taoiseach. Would the Taoiseach see benefit in heading off racism by educating the indigenous population as well as facilitating the immigrant population, not all of whom are asylum seekers? Many are here filling jobs that need to be filled while many others are training Irish people to acquire skills. There are dangerous vibes out there. For example, one or two candidates in the general election will fight on the immigrant issue. Will the Taoiseach agree, given the significant if not seismic change in emigrant and immigrant trends in the past decade, that we should take the matter in hand? He will be aware there are about 800,000 of Irish birth living in Britain alone. I am of the view that it would be useful, and I ask the Taoiseach to consider having a Minister of State at his Department to co-ordinate these issues and to deal with the matter within decent, proper and civilised parameters.
The Deputy has asked me to give consideration to the matter. I think the actual structure exists but there is not a dedicated Minister of State, as highlighted by the Deputy. Presently, the function is co-ordinated by a number of Ministers, including the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The reception and integration agency which was set up in 1999 has substantial staffing and enormous involvement in the day to day issues. These are the people who are driving it and they are answerable to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I suppose the Deputy's proposal can be considered by a new Government.
Does the Taoiseach share my concern that if we do not challenge some of the rather extreme things that have been said by some, albeit a minority of the population, there is the likelihood or certainly the possibility of violence and maybe even loss of life on our streets—
The Deputy is widening the scope of this question. It is a very narrow question and I have allowed the Deputy a lot of latitude on it. He should not pursue it as it is really a separate matter.
—the likes of which we have not seen before? Does the Taoiseach agree, therefore, that a proactive policy in managing these issues should be a priority for the incoming administration?
It will be a priority. It is a priority at present because of the numbers and the attitude of a few. Having said that, we should not overstate the position. It is the attitude of – I will not say only a few – a minority. Work is being done by the health boards, the education system, where a very good job is being done, the Integration Reception Agency and people who are trying to help to find accommodation, provide medical services and give language assistance. All those agencies across a range of Departments are working extremely hard. It continues to be a very difficult problem. Sourcing enough accommodation every month – I think 1,200—
Will the Taoiseach consider the idea?
I will consider it. Although there is no Minister of State, the commitment is certainly there and it is evident every day.