Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I agree with Deputy Burton that it is necessary that Ministers of State be given designated functions. There is a need for a certain number of Ministers of State. I would argue that the necessary requirement could be dealt with by appointing 12. The Taoiseach made the reduction to 15.

Ministers of State are appointed by the Government and that is governed by legislation. Deputy Shatter produced a simple Bill by which, if the Government had adopted it, one might have enshrined in law the reduced number to 15, or, in my preference, to 12. Does the Taoiseach intend to give legislative effect to the decision to reduce the number of Ministers of State?

In his previous answer, the Taoiseach rightly referred to the necessity to make priorities where finite resources exist. One of the problems with Ministers of State is the number of public servants employed in their private and constituency offices. This appears to vary from office to office. Everybody understands that a Minister of State needs some assistance to do his or her political work. Has the Taoiseach set a limit on the number of public servants, paid for by the taxpayer, allowed to work in constituency and private offices? Is the figure two or three or am I to understand that individual Ministers of State have different numbers, because that seems to be a sore point with the public? While I fully respect that the Taoiseach is entitled to be able to service the needs, politically, of Ministers of State, when he speaks of finite resources I believe he should put a limit on this and let everybody know whether, for example, the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, has two people working for him in his constituency office. In the event, let us not hear that the next Minister of State has six people working for him or her paid for at the taxpayer's expense. Has the Taoiseach imposed a limit of two per Minister of State, and does the same apply to their private offices?

I believe the Minister of State, Deputy John Curran, deals with the question of integration, having replaced Deputy Conor Lenihan in that regard. It does not appear, however, that there is to be any Government policy on integration and Deputy Curran has said he will focus on the drugs question, which obviously is important. Equally, the sensitive question of integration is important. In appointing the Minister of State with responsibility for integration, will the Taoiseach comment on his responsibility to continue to build and develop a fair policy of integration both for the Irish and immigrants. He shall get some assistance in that regard from the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, who is handing it down now to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

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