Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

This is something we have rehearsed a few times now. As Deputies have said, I have the power to prescribe further public servants. It is my intention, under subsection (f), to include Secretaries General and assistant secretaries general. We can discuss this again, but including all Ministers, Ministers of State, all Members of the Dáil, all Members of Seanad Éireann, all Members of the European Parliament for this State, all members of local authorities, special advisers appointed to Ministers, Secretaries General of Departments and assistant secretaries general is a fair tranche of people to start with. There will be others, as I have indicated. I do not have a closed mind on this other than to ensure it is practical, that we bring people with us and that everybody can cope with the new regime from the beginning. It is better to have an incremental approach rather than trying to capture everybody. I would say both Deputies could think of another few categories, beyond the ones they listed, to add, and that will happen over time. However, I think this is a broad enough tranche to include in the first go.