Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

During the recent referendum on the Lisbon treaty one of the questions asked in response to the argument that the reduction in the number of Commissioners from 27 to 18 was in the interests of efficiency of administration and governance was how we could argue it was necessary to reduce to 18 the number of Commissioners for a population of 500 million when, for a population of 4 million, we had 15 Cabinet Ministers and 20 Ministers of State. Does the Taoiseach believe we have too many Ministers of State? At the time he appointed his Government did he give any consideration to whether the number should be reduced?

Will the Taoiseach clarify the position regarding the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh? In announcing the formation of the Government he indicated Deputy Mansergh would be Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism with responsibility for the arts. Last week the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy Cullen, published the delegated powers order to be given to the Minister of State. The only reference to the arts I can find in the text is that the Minister of State will have the powers and duties conferred on the Minister under the Heritage Fund Act 2001. This makes the Minister of State responsible for little more than stately homes. By what means is the Minister of State to be given responsibility for the arts? What is the position on the Taoiseach's original proposal, given that it does not appear to have been reflected in the delegation order?

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