Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I accept that the Minister with responsibility for public expenditure and public reform and the Minister with responsibility for children are Ministers without portfolios because the legislation giving effect to both new Departments has not been passed. This is being treated as a matter of priority. Both Ministers are concerned. The Minister with responsibility for public expenditure and public reform has initiated expressions of interest for suitably qualified persons to head up the Department. The Minister with responsibility for children is doing this through an open competition and it will be pursued as quickly as possible. We will bring the matter to the House as soon as it is ready. I cannot give an exact date but it will be as fast as we can do it. The jobs budget is being worked on separately by the Minister for Finance and will be presented by him.

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