Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 13: To ask the Taoiseach the responsibilities of the Ministers of State at his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16828/07]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 14: To ask the Taoiseach the responsibilities of the Ministers of State in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18792/07]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 15: To ask the Taoiseach the responsibilities of the Ministers of State at his Department; if powers and functions have been formally delegated to each such Minister of State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20163/07]

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 to 15, inclusive, together.

The Government appointed Deputy Tom Kitt as Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at my Department and at the Department of Defence. Deputy Dick Roche was appointed Minister of State at my Department and at the Department of Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for European Affairs.

As Chief Whip, the Minister of State, Deputy Tom Kitt, is primarily responsible for the organisation of Government business in the Dáil and for the Government's programme for Dáil reform. He also oversees preparation of the Government's legislative programme. In addition, my statutory functions under the Statistics Act 1993 for the Central Statistics Office have been delegated to the Minister of State, Deputy Tom Kitt.

In a co-ordinating role in the Department of the Taoiseach, the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, chairs the interdepartmental co-ordinating committee on European Union affairs. The committee keeps under review and works to ensure coherence on the full range of issues on the EU's agenda. The committee has a particular focus on the correct and timely transposition of EU legislation. The Minister of State, Deputy Roche, also plays a central role in consolidating and further developing Ireland's positive bilateral EU relations, particularly with the new member states.

In addition to these duties, the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, has a heavy workload within the Department of Foreign Affairs, which involves representing the Government at a wide range of EU and international meetings. Deputy Roche also has responsibility for the Government's Communicating Europe initiative, which aims to foster a broad public understanding of and identification with issues on the EU agenda.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Arising from the Taoiseach's response, are staff assigned to the aforementioned Ministers of State in the other Departments to which they are attached? In other words, do Ministers of State with responsibilities in two Departments have staff assigned to look after them in both Departments or are they attached to one set of civil servants in the Taoiseach's Department?

I have listened to the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, a number of times and he has referred to integration issues, as well as to a committee on integration. I regard the question of immigration and integration as being a serious challenge for all, in addition to constituting a great opportunity if we get it right. Will the Taoiseach consider amending the responsibilities given to the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, to include integration as well as immigration? While he is the Minister of State with responsibility for immigration, this issue is closely tied to questions regarding integration.

I cannot discern any difficulties in this regard from the Taoiseach's perspective because when the Minister of State speaks about the committee for integration, obviously the question is closely related to his official responsibilities. Will the Taoiseach consider expanding his brief to be the Minister of State with responsibility for both immigration and integration, which are closely intertwined across a number of Departments. Such a development would be to great effect because this issue is highly important in the context of the kind of society that will emerge in Ireland in the next 20 years. A Minister of State with responsibility for immigration is somewhat confined or restricted in his responsibilities when they do not encompass a broader dimension and deal with issues that are highly relevant to integration. This matter should be examined.

I understand the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform will bring before the Cabinet next week the proposal regarding the opt-out from the EU reform treaty. Does the Taoiseach believe that Ireland's stance regarding the Schengen Agreement should be reconsidered? Obviously, the common travel area between Ireland and Britain, which has existed since the foundation of the State, will be changed when Britain decides to implement its electronic border around the mainland of England, Scotland and Wales. Does the Taoiseach believe this issue should be reconsidered in the context of an Irish or an Ireland dimension? I refer to the position in which we find ourselves regarding the Schengen Agreement whereby we were corralled to follow Britain. When Britain stayed out, as a consequence so did we. The Taoiseach should respond to these three questions.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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As only three minutes remain, I will call Deputy Ó Caoláin followed by Deputy Gilmore.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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One of the responsibilities of the Minister of State and Chief Whip, Deputy Tom Kitt, concerns the chairing of the legislation committee, about which one hears little. Does it come under the direct auspices of the Department of the Taoiseach? Who sits on the committee and what role does it play in prioritising legislation? Does it have the responsibility of recommending to the Cabinet the ordering of the prioritisation of legislation?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I have two questions in respect of the Minister of State, Deputy Roche. As for his responsibilities as Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs, has he responsibilities other than those pertaining to European affairs? What functions have been delegated formally by the Taoiseach to the Minister of State, Deputy Roche?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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On the area of immigration and integration, effectively this is what the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan is doing. He is playing a role with the churches and other organisations. I will consider the issue regarding his title.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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He has stated a number of times that he is dealing with immigration and not with integration. This would make it much more comprehensive.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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Some of the functions regarding integration reside in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. However, in his work with the organisations and the new communities, effectively the Minister of State is trying to integrate them on a cross-departmental basis. I will consider the issue.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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He has stated that he only deals with immigration and not integration.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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Very well.

As for the debate regarding the Schengen Agreement, the e-borders scheme obviously will bring changes. Many of the difficulties involved were legally based. While I am uncertain whether we can simply change it based on the law, we will have a discussion in this regard when it comes back.

The legislation committee is a highly important committee and the Government Whip is the key person in this regard. It involves the Parliamentary Counsel and is important in shaping forthcoming legislation, as well as legislation at its various stages. The Government decides what is possible based on the Whip's report. Moreover, if difficulties arise and it is deemed necessary, relevant Ministers can be asked to attend by the Minister of State. This is an important committee and the greatly increased volume of legislation being processed in this House recently as against what used to happen years ago has much to do with its effective functioning.

I refer to the question regarding the responsibilities of the Minister of State, Deputy Roche. As for all the European agenda issues, while he has no separate delegation in respect of my Department, all the co-ordination of the European brief with the Department of Foreign Affairs and other Departments is performed by the Minister of State, Deputy Roche. He also stands in for the Minister for Foreign Affairs on a number of committees.

Although officials from various Departments deal with the issues for the Ministers of State, their staffing is in the main Department only. Obviously, the Minister of State has access to officials in both Departments, but his office is staffed only by officials from my Department.