Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

I wonder whether the Minister of State has the authority to consider any consolidation within the various roles that have been set out. It seems extraordinary that there are separate Ministries for forestry, fisheries and horticulture, compared to other sectors that assume greater importance in the development of the economy. What thinking went into the selection of subsectors for which a Minister of State has responsibility? Does it continue because it was always done this way? Is there any consideration of the sectors that require specialist oversight by political masters?

Some years ago, Mr. Colm McCarthy humorously referred to the number of hairdressers and suggested that we should have An Bord Gruaig to address their concerns in a manner similar to how other interests are addressed by State boards and Ministers of State. Will the Minister of State consider consolidation within the ranks of the Ministers of State? In this way when new tasks are required, as is the case with the Ministers of State with responsibility for innovation and older people, we can consolidate and make room for new tasks. If we need a new Minister of State for every task it will continue to grow indefinitely, with the taxpayer as the patsy.

Does the Minister of State have any mandate in respect of how this will develop? Perhaps he could suggest the need for an objective review of the areas that justify a Minister of State. We could apply the resources of the talented people promoted to these posts more effectively if we identified sectors with genuine new challenges. I welcomed the increased attention given to some areas, such as drugs. In other areas I fail to see the impact that Ministers of State have. As I stated on Second Stage, there should be an obligation on Government to set out the areas of responsibility, the expectation of performance and some way in which the House, which ultimately sanctions the appointments, can decide that the concerns are valid, that new challenges exist, that genuine policy initiatives are pursued and that it is not a case of leaving someone in the position because there was always someone in it. I wish to see this set out in the House, in order not to trivialise the appointment of the Ministers of State as has been the case. The Oireachtas has virtually no say in the shape of administration even though we deal with the consequences of poor administration on a daily basis. We have views, as have the Government backbenchers, on how ministerial responsibility should be structured. I would like more creativity in involving the Houses in shaping Government administration. I also seek greater involvement in the shaping of policy and legislative programmes, for which Deputy Shatter called. Backbenchers and the Opposition have no real opportunity for input.

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