Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

In the programme for Government there is a reference to strengthening Cabinet accountability, stating the Government will support an enhanced approach by Ministers of State playing a more substantive role in decision-making. Will the Taoiseach explain exactly how that has been achieved? The document also indicates the Government will consider the creation of unpaid parliamentary private secretaries. I am unsure whether any Fine Gael Deputies do not have a job currently. I suppose the former Taoiseach or Minister for Finance could hardly take on a role as a parliamentary private secretary, although maybe they will. Perhaps it was the idea of the Taoiseach's predecessor but has he thought about it and is there a role for a parliamentary private secretary, which the programme for Government indicates would examine the balance of power and responsibility between Government and the Civil Service? I am not sure how exactly that would happen.

There is a commitment in the programme for Government for all Ministers to appear before the relevant Oireachtas committee on a quarterly basis. Will the Taoiseach indicate whether that has been achieved? There is an indication that the Taoiseach would appear before the Working Group of Committee Chairmen twice per year. Has he done that? Is that commitment being adhered to? In a general sense, there are 19 Ministers of State, which is as many as we have ever had in any Government. Was there 21 at one stage?

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