Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 11: To ask the Taoiseach the number of staff of his Department who have applied to be relocated outside Dublin under the Government's decentralisation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34102/04]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 12: To ask the Taoiseach the number of staff in his Department, broken down by grade, who have applied to relocate under the Government's decentralisation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3499/05]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 13: To ask the Taoiseach the number of staff in his Department who have applied for relocation outside Dublin under the decentralisation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3644/05]

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 14: To ask the Taoiseach the number of his staff who have applied to relocate outside Dublin under the decentralisation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4485/05]

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 to 14, inclusive, together.

A total of 45 staff from my Department have applied through the central applications facility to relocate under the decentralisation programme, an increase of one since the expiry of the initial period for priority applications on 7 September 2004. Broken down by grade, there are seven assistant principals, nine administrative officers, four higher executive officers, 12 executive officers, two staff officers, ten clerical officers and one general operative.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Since the last occasion on which these questions were asked, significant events have taken place. Will the Taoiseach indicate if he has made any appointment to the chairmanship of the Government decentralisation implementation committee in view of the resignation of Mr. Phil Flynn arising from his association with a person under investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau in respect of his involvement with a finance company? Will the Taoiseach confirm that there are no restrictions on the promotion of civil servants in Dublin? Queries I have received indicate that when civil servants in Dublin sign up for promotion it must be on the basis that they are prepared to relocate outside Dublin. Does the Taoiseach agree that this is contradictory, given the voluntary nature of the decentralisation programme, under which the former Minister for Finance, Mr. McCreevy, said 10,000 civil servants would be relocated within three years? Can the Taoiseach confirm that promotions are not contingent upon agreement to relocate to a different part of the country?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The question refers specifically to the Department of the Taoiseach.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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This refers to the Taoiseach's Department.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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It does not arise for my Department because it is not moving, but there is no truth in what the Deputy suggests.

On the question of names, it is a matter for the Minister for Finance to bring names to the Government. Given the enormous amount of work going on, it is important that a new chairperson is appointed. I have discussed the issue but not the replacement. The Minister for Finance will move on this very shortly.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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On that point, has the Taoiseach had any direct discussions with Mr. Phil Flynn either immediately prior to his resignation or since?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That does not arise out of the four questions.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The answer to the question is probably "no" and it would take approximately five seconds to answer.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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No.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Does the Taoiseach believe the resignation has any adverse implications for the implementation programme, given the circumstances surrounding it?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The question must refer specifically to the Department of the Taoiseach.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Does the Taoiseach believe the resignation of the chairman of the implementation committee, in circumstances in which he felt obliged to resign, has had any adverse implications for his Department?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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From the point of view of my Department, the chairman, to his credit, put in a significant amount of his time. He has many commitments but he was dedicated to moving this forward. He is obviously a loss to the group. However, there are other good and dedicated people on the group. They include the Chairman of the Office of Public Works; the Secretary General, PSMD, of the Department of Finance; a chartered surveyor; an outside private sector managing director; a former chairman of the Revenue Commissioners. The resignation is a distraction and it is necessary to fill the position and move on. The process of engaging with the advisory committee, my Department and others has been well organised. It would be better if difficulties did not arise, but they did and we must now move on.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Can the Taoiseach tell the House who now sits on the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Decentralisation? Has a review been carried out, given what I would describe as the revised estimate, the downward revision, which resulted from the failure to secure sufficient interest among civil servants? The figures are clearly lower than initially anticipated by the Government.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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This question refers specifically to the Department of the Taoiseach. General questions should be directed to the line Minister, the Minister for Finance.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Earlier the Ceann Comhairle stopped me on the Esat Digifone mobile licence as if he had better information. I did not respond then that the Moriarty tribunal had dealt with this. My question relates——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Discussion on the Moriarty tribunal is not appropriate. The Deputy knows the ruling.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The Ceann Comhairle saw fit to interrupt me when he did not know what he was talking about. My question relates to the Department of the Taoiseach. It is becoming extremely tedious to be constantly interrupted.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Chair never interrupts. The Chair intervenes when necessary.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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My question is whether or not a review has taken place as a result of the revised estimate of the numbers prepared to relocate.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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There is no review. The work of preparation actively continues. There are priority areas for the first stage. There will be a second report later in the spring. While anticipated numbers have not been achieved in early rounds, there are more than enough to go on with. Perhaps it will be prioritised over a longer period, but work continues.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Is a report made to a Cabinet sub-committee?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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Reports are made to the entire Cabinet as this issue affects practically all Ministers. A Cabinet committee meets when necessary but a monthly report is made to the full Cabinet.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Will the Taoiseach indicate when the new chairman of the implementation group will take up the position following the resignation of Mr. Phil Flynn? Given the Taoiseach's earlier reply, on what basis does he state that there is no pressure on civil servants to accept decentralisation before they apply for promotion? The decentralisation programme was introduced as a voluntary scheme. This seems to be contrary to the spirit of the scheme.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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This question refers specifically to the Department of the Taoiseach.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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It does. I hope the Taoiseach will be able to respond.

Is the Taoiseach aware that IMPACT has published very worrying figures which indicate that quite a number of skilled positions will be unfilled if the decentralisation of a number of Departments — I am not sure whether the Department of the Taoiseach is one of them——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The question refers specifically to the Taoiseach's Department.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Will the Taoiseach take a note of that and say whether that problem will be addressed?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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We cannot create a precedent where Members can ask the Taoiseach general questions.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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I am not trying to create a precedent. I am asking about the decentralisation programme within the constraints set down.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is a matter for the Minister for Finance.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Is the Taoiseach aware of that worrying development? Is there any indication that wages and costs for people who remain in Dublin will be assessed as an additional cost, given that they are voluntarily not being decentralised.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The system is a voluntary one. It is being implemented on a voluntary basis. That is the spirit of it and that is how it operates.