Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

They may want to be the Taoiseach's friends because of the position he holds. Section 227 of the code of conduct for officeholders states that, subject to the provisions in legislation or other formal requirements for the establishment of Government bodies for the filling of positions, appointments by members of the Government should be made on the basis of merit, taking into account the skills, qualifications and experience of the person to be appointed and so on.

Has the Taoiseach reviewed this position or is this guideline followed strictly by the members of the Government? Are there any other appointments that must be confirmed by the Taoiseach or on his behalf? If a Minister has a vacancy at an agency such as Údarás na Gaeltachta, must he approach the Taoiseach with a suggested appointee having applied the aforementioned guideline?

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