Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Lenihan for his good wishes and congratulations.

The manner in which responsibilities are now being allocated in the Department is new. However, it is not entirely new. Deputy Lenihan will recall that it was quite common, over the years, to have a Minister for the Public Service with full Cabinet rank. It was also the practice to combine that portfolio with the functions of the Minister for Labour. Labour and the Public Service was quite frequently the designated ministry. Social partnership brought about a situation where everything was rolled together into the Department of Finance. The Department of the Taoiseach then seemed to take a primary role in relationships with the social partners. There were advantages and disadvantages in this procedure.

In opposition, when we began looking at the situation Deputy Richard Bruton, who is now Minister for industry and commerce, produced a document. That is probably not the correct title, but I am old-fashioned in my titles.

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