Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The Taoiseach's reply invites a further question. He indicated that members of staff in the Taoiseach's Department voluntarily disclosed a disability of one sort or another. My understanding — the Taoiseach may correct me if I am wrong — is there is a requirement on Departments across the board to meet the 3% level in terms of recruiting people with disabilities. If the disclosures were voluntary, was this factor relating to disability taken into account with regard to access to employment in the first place?

This is a very important point which needs clarification as quotas are to be reached. These are currently inadequate and understate the present need. They should be increased to a 5% level — an argument I have made here before with the support of other voices currently in government.

Will the Taoiseach outline the current vacancies in his Department as I may not have picked him up correctly in his initial reply because of noise in the Chamber? I understand three vacancies were signalled but if this is not the case will the Taoiseach please let us know? Is there any prospect with regard to current affirmative action measures that the positions will be filled by someone with a clear disability if there are any vacancies in the Department?

We are talking about staff in the Taoiseach's Department and the Civil Service across the board. What is the Taoiseach's position on the contribution by the Minister of State, Deputy John McGuinness, in which he stated that the Civil Service is "a reactionary, inert mass at the centre of our economy" with too many square pegs in round holes throughout? The Taoiseach has not clarified to my satisfaction how he stands on that view, which must be a reflection on his Department also. Will the Taoiseach put on record how he stands on Deputy McGuinness's utterances and convey his view of the standard of people employed within our Civil Service?

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