Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

B'áil liom cead a chur in iúl, mar eolas don Dáil, gur chuir mé m'ainmniú mar Thaoiseach in iúl don Uachtarán agus gur cheap sí mé dá réir.

I wish to announce, for the information of the Dáil, that I have informed the President that the Dáil has nominated me to be the Taoiseach and that she has appointed me accordingly.

It is a great honour for me to present to the House the names of those whom I am proposing for appointment by the President as members of the Government. In selecting my nominees, I have had regard to the record of achievement of many who have made an outstanding contribution to public life and to policy over recent years. I have also had regard to the talents and energy of others who have much to contribute. I am particularly conscious of the fact that a number of Ministers have held office in their Departments for only two and a half years. I believe there is a strong case to enable Ministers to continue in some Departments for a further period. There will be a particular opportunity at the mid-term review of the Government's programme to consider further the allocation of ministerial responsibilities. These considerations will also be reflected in the names I will propose next week to the Government for appointment as Ministers of State.

I do not propose on this occasion to make significant changes in the configuration of Departments. On the whole, I believe that the current structure of Departments is appropriate. I do, however, propose to make a number of changes in the interests of a better alignment of functions. Specifically, I propose to reallocate responsibility for sea fisheries to the Department of Agriculture and Food, which will become the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. In doing so, I will bring together the principal food production areas in one Department, in line with the norm in our partner member states.

I propose to transfer responsibility for non-national roads and the national vehicle and driver file to the Department of Transport. This will provide an even more comprehensive basis for the transport and road safety agendas. The principal responsibility for marine matters now lies with the Department of Transport, with the exception of the fisheries area. I propose, therefore, that the Department will be named the Department of Transport and the Marine.

There will be some other minor reallocation of functions to produce a better and more effective grouping of more specific activities. This will be announced in the coming days.

With those considerations in mind, I have pleasure in formally moving the motion.

Tairigim: "Go gcomhaontóidh Dáil Éireann leis an Taoiseach d'ainmniú na dTeachtaí seo a leanas chun a gceaptha ag an Uachtarán mar chomhaltaí den Rialtas."

I move: "That Dáil Éireann approve the nomination by the Taoiseach of the following Deputies for appointment by the President to be members of the Government:

They will be assigned Departments of State as follows:

I intend to propose to the Government, on its appointment, that Deputy Tom Kitt be appointed a Minister of State to become Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Department of Defence.

We are entering a period of significant activity in Europe. Next week, the European Council will consider the mandate for a new Intergovernmental Conference to address the issue of the future of the draft constitutional treaty. This will require intensive engagement to ensure that our national interests, as well as the interests of the European Union as a whole, are fully reflected in these negotiations and the subsequent debates in the European Council. I am pleased to announce that it is my intention to propose to the Government the appointment of Deputy Dick Roche as Minister of State for European Affairs. He played an outstanding role in the last IGC and was recognised across Europe as an outstanding Minister for European Affairs.

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