Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

A Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6 together.

I am responsible to the Dáil for the general activities of my Department and parliamentary questions addressed to me must relate to public affairs connected with my Department or to matters of administration for which I am officially responsible.

The presentation of my Department's Estimate to the Select Sub-Committee on the Department of the Taoiseach also provides an opportunity for members of the sub-committee to question me on a wide range of activities relating to my Department.

There are, however, specific activities undertaken by officials of my Department for which I do not have official responsibility, for example, decisions made in relation to freedom of information applications or matters concerning release of files under the National Archives Act.

My responsibilities in relation to European affairs include my participation in meetings of the European Council and other key European summits, as well as bilateral meetings and foreign visits. Questions relating to international agreements and pacts, including those with EU partners and institutions, generally fall for answer by the relevant Minister.

I am also accountable to the Dáil in a limited way in respect of a number of State offices, for example, the law offices of the State and the Central Statistics Office. By and large, I answer questions in the House in relation to matters of administration connected with those offices. Similarly, the nature of my responsibility to the House in respect of any tribunal or commission established under the aegis of my Department is confined primarily to the arrangements relating to their establishment and ongoing administration.

The specific nature of my accountability in respect of my Department and those bodies operating within its policy area has long been established by precedent in each.

The procedures for dealing with parliamentary questions in my Department are long established and have not changed recently, nor do I propose to change them. The Ceann Comhairle examines questions to ensure they comply with Standing Orders. When a question complies with Standing Orders, I answer it. However, in accordance with long-standing practice, questions are transferred to another Minister where responsibility for the substantive subject of the question rests with that Minister. Ministers of State at my Department also reply to parliamentary questions in respect of their areas of responsibility.

On Wednesday, 13 July, I presented my Department's Estimate to the Select Sub-Committee on the Department of the Taoiseach and also outlined the restructuring that has taken place in my Department recently and the way in which the Department supports me in carrying out the duties of my office.

The 2011 Revised Estimate for my Department is €21.039 million. This is an overall decrease of 27% on the 2010 Revised Estimate allocation. On the administrative budget, the overall reduction in the Revised Estimate for 2011 is 14%.

Of the programme subheads, there has been a reduction of 30% in the funding allocated to the National Economic and Social Development Office, 15% in the allocation for commemoration initiatives and 53% in the allocation for the Moriarty tribunal.

If the full Revised Estimate allocation is spent it would represent an increase of 12% over the outturn for 2010, although I would be hopeful the Department will be able to come in well within budget as has consistently been the case in recent years. The increase of approximately €2 million over the 2010 outturn relates primarily to one-off expenditure on salaries, wages and allowances related to the transition from the previous Government, plus costs related to events such as the visits by Queen Elizabeth II and President Obama, the State funeral for the former Taoiseach, Dr. Garret FitzGerald, and the forthcoming presidential inauguration ceremonies.

I have not made any changes to the Northern Ireland division in my Department. The division continues to support me on all matters relevant to Northern Ireland, including my participation in the North-South Ministerial Council and the British Irish Council, and contacts with the Northern Ireland First Minister and Deputy First Minister, as well as with the British Prime Minister. The division also plays an important role in co-ordinating matters relating to North-South co-operation across Departments.

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