Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

In his reply to Deputy Kenny, the Taoiseach mentioned that a general election has not yet been called and that therefore the interregnum period between the calling of a general election and the election of whatever government arises from the general election does not arise yet. However, in reality it does because at the moment we have an unusually long interregnum period. The general election, in effect, has been called. The announcement by the Minister, Deputy Gormley, that the Green Party would withdraw from government and that we would have an election called before the end of January effectively means the life of this Government is now on notice. It is clear that members of the Government clearly believe that and we have seen a number of Ministers and Ministers of State indicate they will not stand for re-election.

In that interregnum period we need to address two issues. The first is the administrative decisions that may be made by different organs of Government - Departments and State agencies - based on the understanding of those Departments and agencies of the policies of the current Government. Clearly care will need to be taken that they do not anticipate or prejudice any policy changes that might be made by a new government. The second is the question of appointments. We are not talking about the normal five to six weeks between the calling of a general election and the reconvening of the Dáil. In the past there have been attempts at sharp practice whereby governments of different hues have attempted to make appointments in that period. We now have a much longer period of time and therefore a greater number of appointments that will be due to be filled. I accept that some of those appointments are effectively nominations made by various bodies to boards of State agencies, with which there is no issue. Some of them are discretionary appointments made by Ministers and some of those appointees may well find favour right across the House.

Given the likely length of the interregnum period, would the Taoiseach agree to a mechanism that seeks to reach agreement in the House on an all-party basis about the appointments that arise between now and the reconvening of the Dáil after a general election?

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