Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

The reason I asked this question was to inquire about the policies outlined in the programme for Government. In particular, has the Taoiseach revised his commitment to have his office personally vet all ministerial appointments? We have had a significant number of appointments to State boards. The Taoiseach indicated that appointments would be made in a new and independent way and that he would personally oversee the implementation of that approach. Not only has this not happened, but the proportion of appointments that are reserved for the politically connected has actually shot up. The Taoiseach made great play of this in advance of the general election and since then, but I have observed an even more concerted programme of personal patronage by Ministers. The Department of the Taoiseach has historically played, and continues to play, a central role in judicial appointments, so the Taoiseach will, I take it, take personal responsibility for the fact that only 5% of appointments so far have not had a direct political connection to the Government.

Does the Taoiseach not think there is a need for such a review? He says the Department has not conducted any review, but with regard to appointments to State boards and to the Judiciary, the existing programme for Government and existing policy pronouncements by the Taoiseach himself indicate that he had intended to do something new and different. Has the Taoiseach reversed or revised that policy in any shape or form?

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