Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Who is preparing the legislation? When I asked this before, the Taoiseach seemed to think it would come from the Department of Finance. Which Minister will present the detailed proposals to the Government?

The policy mentioned in the Renewed Programme for Government is very explicit. It would provide for the publication of all vacancies likely to occur, the inviting of applications from the general public and, from the responses, the creation of a panel of suitable persons for consideration for appointment. The legislation will also specify the number of persons to be appointed by Ministers and facilitate the appropriate Oireachtas committees in making nominations to the panel.

Why is this practice not being followed? I presume it is Government policy and although we will have to wait for the legislation to come forward, why is the Government not practising what it preaches? The policy was put in the programme for Government so why are the appointments made by Ministers not subject to what is now meant to be Government policy?

I understand the Cabinet handbook has an arrangement where when appointments are made, the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and any other party leader in Government will be informed separately in advance of any such proposal. Is that still the practice? How many leaders of parties are there in Government? At one stage this was-----

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