Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Has the Taoiseach received any communication from the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy Cullen, on his membership of the Government and of Dáil Éireann? If so, when will he make an announcement to the House in that regard?

As there is now one vacancy in the membership of the Government, as a second one is to arise shortly and as a third is possible, when does the Taoiseach intend to table a motion in the House on the appointment of new Ministers? Will he confirm to the House what is widely speculated, that is, that he will announce a Government reshuffle on 23 March?

The comments made today by the Ombudsman at the Institute of Public Administration are very strong. In the course of making her remarks, she expressed the hope the Oireachtas may yet find a mechanism to allow her report to be dealt with calmly and reasonably.

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