Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach will no doubt remember that in July 2017 he informed the House it was his intention to review the workings of the Department of the Taoiseach and then implement changes to its structure and staffing. With the exception of the now abandoned SCU and some increase in PR staff, can he be clear with me, given I am not clear, as to what structural changes have occurred within the Department and what changes he has implemented? Will he tell us what concrete changes he made to the structure or to the balance within the Department in terms of allocation to different sectors?

We hear regular reports from the Taoiseach about how he is going to make certain issues a priority. I recall that before Christmas he said he would take a hands-on approach to rural broadband and that it was going to be a personal crusade. Has he made changes to his Department to assist him with this particular crusade on broadband provision? Given the clear failures to meet the targets that have been set, or to address increasing public concern on health and housing, does this not suggest the current approach to overseeing plans and co-ordination of action simply is not working? Beyond the Taoiseach simply making general statements about prioritising this or that when the latest crisis emerges, there is no system or structure in place within his Department to enable him to do that. What specific expertise in health and housing has he available to him, as chairperson of the Cabinet committees which oversee these areas?

See this speech in context