Mr. David Moloney:

There are a number of ways in which Ministers can engage in that discussion. Obviously, there is an ongoing conversation between Ministers and their Secretaries General in regard to issues and the delivery of the statement of strategy and the business plan for Departments. There is a structure there, introduced in the 1997 Act, to allow a conversation, a setting of objectives and a review of those objectives. If specific issues arise whereby the Minister feels action has been taken without authority, the process allows him to raise those issues. In terms of the Deputy's net point, the Civil Service Regulation Acts make the Government the appropriate authority for Secretaries General because the latter are appointed by the Government. If an issue were to be escalated, it would be escalated to the level of Government.