Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Government has appointed a senior Minister to deal with children and youth affairs. The legislation is being prioritised and some of the powers are to be transferred from the Department of Health and Children to the Department for children and youth affairs. It takes time to set this up but the Ministers and Government are insisting that it happen as quickly as possible. That is what will happen. Taking this into account, the appointments of Secretaries General are wide open to competition under the traditional arrangements, as I originally stated to Deputy Martin.

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