Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 8: To ask the Taoiseach the responsibilities of the Ministers of State at his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30638/09]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 9: To ask the Taoiseach the responsibilities of the Ministers of State at his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32530/09]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 9 together.

On 22 April 2009, the Government appointed Deputy Pat Carey as Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at my Department and at the Department of Defence; and Deputy Dick Roche as 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 Pat Carey, is primarily responsible for the organisation of Government business in the Dáil and for the Government's programme for Dáil reform. He also oversees the preparation of the Government's legislative programme. I have also assigned responsibility for the active citizenship initiative in my Department to the Minister of State, Deputy Carey. The role of the Minister of State will be to drive the initiative forward, oversee the implementation of the recommendations of the task force on active citizenship and, critically, promote the concept of active citizenship in all spheres of Irish life. The Minister of State, Deputy Carey, will be supported in this work by a steering group chaired by Ms Mary Davis. In addition, my statutory functions relating to the Central Statistics Office have been delegated to the Minister of State, Deputy Carey.

In my Department, the Minister of State, Deputy Dick Roche, chairs an 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.

In addition to these duties, the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, represents the Government at a wide range of EU and international meetings. He plays a central role in consolidating and further developing Ireland's bilateral relations with EU member states. He also plays a key role in communicating the importance of the European Union to Ireland and thus fostering enhanced public understanding of EU issues.

As always, questions on the functions of particular Ministers of State in other Departments should be tabled to the relevant Ministers.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Is it intended to change the Ministers and Secretaries (Ministers of State) Act 2007 to reduce the numbers of Ministers of State? The Taoiseach is aware that Deputy Shatter published a Private Members' Bill allowing for a reduction of numbers to 12. The Government has reduced the number to 15 but this does not restrict it in increasing it again to what it was. Is the current number permanent or is it intended to go below it? Will there be legal effect through changing the Ministers and Secretaries (Ministers of State) Act 2007?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I have no immediate plans in that regard. Political decisions were taken during the course of the year as part of our response to the emerging financial position. I regard the work done by Ministers of State as important; it is not only supplementary to the work of Ministers, as they carry out work which is important for the Government and the general public in their delegated duties.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Concern has been expressed in the House on a number of occasions about the practice which has developed, whereby a rota for Ministers of State seems to be in operation for the Adjournment Debate. One Minister of State may come into the House to read a script for three or four Departments, depending on the questions asked. At a minimum, I ask that a Minister or Minister of State from the relevant Department deliver the reply to an Adjournment Debate.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The objective should be, where possible, to have a Minister or Minister of State from the relevant Department but that is not always possible. It is a question of Dáil reform as to when these matters might be taken during the course of the parliamentary day.