Enda Kenny
Ceist:1 Mr. Kenny asked the Taoiseach the arrangements in place in his Department for providing assistance to certain Independent Members of Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9145/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 5 April 2006
Ceisteanna (1, 2, 3, 4)
Trevor Sargent
Ceist:2 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach the arrangements which are in place for his Department to provide assistance to certain Independent Deputies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10190/06]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Pat Rabbitte
Ceist:3 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach the arrangements that are in place to provide assistance for certain Independent Members of Dáil Éireann; if he will list those who are entitled to avail of this service; the estimated annual cost of providing the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10199/06]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Ceist:4 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach the arrangements in place in his Department for providing assistance to certain Independent Members of Dáil Éireann; the assistance offered to them above and beyond that available to all Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas; if officials in his Department are responsible for this assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10569/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí ó Béal (19 píosaí cainte)
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together.
A number of Independent Deputies offered invaluable support to the previous Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats Government. While in regard to this Administration their support is not as critical to the Government's majority, given the support they provided in the past, I have tried, and will continue to try, to be as helpful as possible to these Deputies. A staff member in my office assists the Government Chief Whip's office in its work in liasing with these Deputies. The official meets with the Deputies on a regular basis and arranges to keep them briefed on issues as they arise.
I confirm there is no additional cost to the taxpayer in dealing with these Deputies. One assistant principal officer deals with the Deputies and assists the Chief Whip in this matter. In seeking to be as helpful as possible regarding the priorities and issues of concern for the Deputies, this is managed within the expenditure on programmes within the programme for Government and the national development plan and will be within the parameters of planned expenditure within departmental Estimates.
Is it reasonable to give some Independent Deputies a helping hand over and above everybody else? They are elected by the same electorate as other Members. They have rights and responsibilities and the use of the facilities of the House. Is this a type of each way bet for the Taoiseach? Given that his partners in Government are prepared to state they can do business with other parties in the House, the Taoiseach is expending taxpayers' money to ensure the other half of the bet is kept sweet in case anything goes wrong. Does the Taoiseach have a view on that?
That is not the strategic objective. The Deputies concerned have been supportive of the Government and it would be wrong, just because we have a majority in the House, not to give them some assistance. The Deputies concerned do not seek preferential treatment. In fact, other Members, including other Independent Members, ask for support from time to time. We try to deal with them even-handedly. Obviously, however, these Independent Members were crucial to the Government in the last Dáil and it would be wrong of me to abandon them because of the voting position. They do not incur an increase in expenditure or get preferential treatment that would create any difficulty.
Will the Taoiseach give their names? Deputy Healy-Rae was crucial for the Government in the last Dáil. Are they an extension of the reserve force Deputy McDowell talks about, in case the Taoiseach's erstwhile friends decide to walk away for some reason? One week they are leaving and the next week they are not. Who are the Independent Deputies who receive slightly more favourable assistance from the Government?
Three of the four Independent Deputies who supported the Government in the last Dáil still keep in touch with the Government. They are Deputies Healy-Rae, Blaney and Fox.
The Taoiseach has a majority with the Progressive Democrats so it would be interesting to find out why this arrangement with certain Independent Deputies is continuing. Is Deputy Cooper-Flynn considered part of the arrangement? Is the Taoiseach conveying the message that former Fianna Fáil Deputies who were difficult are to be rewarded for creating difficulties? What message does that give to Fianna Fáil backbenchers? The Taoiseach mentioned briefings. Is a particular representation facility offered? Does it go to each Department or does it go through the Government Chief Whip? Has it been streamlined in that fashion? Are civil servants availed of to provide this service? Is it the case that this politicises the Civil Service and are certain people picked out for preferential treatment? Should the same service not be provided to all Deputies so the Government cannot be accused of politicising the Civil Service?
Both my office and that of the Whip assist all Deputies on a daily or weekly basis. Deputy Sargent will appreciate that if I found someone helpful and constructive over five years, I would not just turn over the book and say the numbers are different and we are not interested any more. That is not the way I act because it is disrespectful. It is no more than that. The Deputies do not seek any great help or assistance. They might at times look for a meeting or deputation with Ministers, but others also do that every day in the House. I confirm that Deputy Cooper-Flynn is not one of the Deputies concerned. Any assistance does not bring an additional cost but comes within the ordinary work of the staff in the office.
In the last Dáil, on a daily basis one was asking Deputies to vote with the Government and to support legislation. Therefore, it was necessary for the working of Government in those arrangements to have quite close contact and briefing on the issues. We cannot expect people to vote without such briefings. They do not have the benefit of parliamentary parties like the rest of us to get these detailed briefings. The briefings were provided and it was right to provide them.
I call Deputy Rabbitte.
I cannot think of anything to ask.
There is no argument with such an arrangement in principle, but it should be up-front and people should know about it. In that context, the Taoiseach has indicated the Deputies who are permanently involved. However, in reply to Deputy Kenny earlier, the Taoiseach stated, "and including other Deputies from time to time". Who are the Lanigan's ball Deputies who step in and out again? Will the Taoiseach tell us who they are? He has told us those who are in his permanent coterie, but who are those who are occasionally in the Government's favour in terms of fast-tracking of information and responses etc.? What are the criteria for establishing if Deputies are with or against the Government?
If the Deputy checks back he will find a few of them who helped me to get this job on the first day by voting for me. Being the fair-minded person I am, if a Deputy voted to get me into the job and then asks me something, I take notice of it. I never hold that against——
I had better start asking.
I appreciate it.
Is Deputy McHugh one of the Lanigan's ball Deputies?
No, I am not.
I never hold that against Deputy Ó Caoláin's party. I meet his party more than I meet anybody and am always favourable towards it, both North and South.
I suppose the Taoiseach is hoping that will pay, but he will wait.
Was the Taoiseach in a position to offer Deputy Healy-Rae a search party to locate his missing pony recently or did he make any request in that regard?
I may have asked the Independent Deputies to help him over Easter.