Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Does any politically appointed adviser in the Taoiseach's Department deal with e-Government? This matter was the responsibility of the former Minister of State, Deputy Hanafin, but I am not sure what is the position at present.

Are the guidelines that bind politically appointed advisers in terms of their duties published? Have any changes been recently introduced to these guidelines? Earlier this year or late last year it emerged that a prominent political adviser to the Taoiseach was at least associated with directions to a Minister about allocation of public funding for facilities down south. Has that situation changed or are these political advisers still entitled to give advice that might be accepted or rejected by a Minister as the case may be?

Who is in charge of e-Government? Are these guidelines available on the website or are they published? Have any changes to them been introduced recently and has the practice of politically appointed advisers more or less dictating what Ministers should do come to an end? In other words is the "Yes Minister" period over?

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