Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

It will happen as quickly as these processes come to a conclusion. The public process will take slightly longer than an internal process would do but there will be no delay. That is not within my control. These recommendations are made independently and a certain number of names are brought forward. That process will go ahead and be brought to completion.

I know of no proposal to change the responsibilities of my Department. I share the view of the Deputy that this Department has done very good work. Many areas, whether severely deprived urban areas, isolated rural areas or islands, would not have received the same attention in the normal way under the line Departments. The same applies for the drug problems with which my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy John Curran, deals. The Department works because it deals with communities on a geographic basis or on the basis of social deprivation. If we did not have that system, these communities would keep falling through the cracks. I fully accept the support of the Opposition Deputies for the work of this Department and their positive attitude.

I know of no change but it would not be true to say that change is not possible because many years ago the Department of Labour was set up, and Dr. Paddy Hillery was appointed, mid-term. I know of no proposal to change this Department. Speaking on TG4, the Taoiseach made it quite clear when asked about the Department's responsibility for the Gaeltacht that he did not visualise change À la McCarthy. I cannot pre-empt any decision he might make but I do not see any imminent change.

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