Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 5: To ask the Taoiseach if he has assigned special responsibility for particular tasks to individual advisers in his office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11568/11]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 6: To ask the Taoiseach if, in view of his response concerning responsibility for Northern Ireland affairs, he will outline the detail of specific sectoral or policy areas which he has assigned to non-established staff in his Department. [12098/11]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 and 6 together.

There are five special advisers appointed in my Department, four of whom are my special advisers and one of whom is special adviser to the Government Chief Whip. In general, the primary function of special advisers is to help achieve the Government's objectives and secure the implementation of the programme for Government. My special advisers are tasked with giving me advice and keeping me informed on a wide range of issues, as well as performing such other functions as may be directed by me from time to time.

My chief of staff, Mark Kennelly, among his other duties, will work closely with the Northern Ireland division of my Department to ensure I am full briefed on all developments.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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These questions have become relevant because of last week's events. Many people were struck by the speed and consistency of the briefing against one of the Taoiseach's advisers and this even went so far as to show what exactly one of his advisers said to him when they were discussing his College Green speech. Every fair minded person can see that she was treated badly by whomever of her colleagues chose to brief about her responsibilities. Will the Taoiseach confirm to whom responsibility has been given for briefing the press about discussions within his office and state whether he has taken steps to ensure there is no repeat of last week's briefings?

On the separate issue of specific sectoral responsibilities, he stated yesterday that his Department has retained a role in implementing co-ordination across government. The problem is that so far he has been willing to talk about accountability in a general sense but to deflect questions that relate to specific accountability on issues. He said yesterday he had a major role in economic issues outside of his Cabinet role but then said again that any specific questions about individual issues should be put to Ministers and so on.

With regard to his non-established staff, has he given sectoral responsibilities to advisers as an important statement of his priorities across the board? For example, will his advisers give advice to Cabinet sub-committees in specific areas? Are they members of Cabinet subgroups relating to social inclusion, for example?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Mr. Kennelly deals with the Northern Ireland section of the Department and he has dealt with this brief for a number of years. Mr. Andrew McDowell deals with the economic management council. He has been our economist for a number of years and he is obviously associated and acquainted with all the elements of the programme for Government and advises me on a regular basis about issues related to that and so on. As the Deputy will be aware, it is a case of being in contact with Ministers on a regular basis about issues arising or events that are happening.

I do not get his drift about briefings. I am not clear on what he is talking about.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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With regard to the Taoiseach's College Green speech, there were various-----

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Did the Deputy like it?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It was powerful but I thought I had heard it somewhere before.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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What are we talking about?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Advisers. There were significant negative briefings against the person who is believed to have advised the Taoiseach on his speech, stating the person was responsible for the non-attribution in the speech. It was unfair and such commentary should not be part or parcel of briefings. Clearly, someone in the Taoiseach's office briefed against the adviser responsible for the speech.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I do not know. I assume if I started off talking about comely maidens dancing at the crossroads, people would have said, "I heard that speech before somewhere".

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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They would not because it was never given. He never mentioned it.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I know.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I just want to get the record straight.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I have no idea where the briefings came from. It is irrelevant to me. I expect people to do their jobs. I take the Deputy's point but I have no idea what discussion took place about that.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 7: To ask the Taoiseach the process which he has followed in relation to filling the positions of Secretary General and Second Secretary General in his Department. [12099/11]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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In accordance with established practice, on 8 April last, expressions of interest were sought from civil servants for these posts, the filling of which are a matter for the Government and do not come within the remit of TLAC. All suitable officers, regardless of whether they have submitted an expression of interest, will be considered before a decision is made by the Government.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Taoiseach. The last time I raised this issue he said no external applications would be invited and there would be no independent involvement in filling these posts, even though this directly contradicts stated Fine Gael policy. His only justification then was that this is the way it has always been. Both jobs are being filled at the same time. The process is important as it will determine the leadership of his Department and the Cabinet secretariat for at least the next seven years. Who has taken the role of assessing the potential appointees? What measures has the Taoiseach put in place to make sure everyone involved in helping him to assess the candidates reveals to him any connections they may have to the applicants? Has he put in place guidelines for the selection process?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I have not. The new post is being established to support the operation of two new mechanisms at the centre of government to enhance co-operation, effectiveness and co-ordination in the critical areas of economic management and EU co-ordination. That is the purpose of the Second Secretary General post. This post will have responsibility for the Government economic management council, about which he or she will report to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and he or she will co-ordinate support for him in his engagement with Government issues, including Cabinet committee structures. The Second Secretary General will also have responsibility for EU co-ordination in which he or she will report, as appropriate, to me and the Tánaiste. He or she will be a member of the management advisory committee of the Department of the Taoiseach, reporting to the Secretary General of the Department.

Expressions of interest have been received in respect of this post and no decision has been taken beyond that yet. That is a separate process from the filling of the position for the Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach and Secretary to the Government. That process has not begun in earnest yet.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I asked who has taken the role of assessing the potential appointees. Has the Taoiseach put any guidelines in place for the selection process?

Is the process similar to that followed for appointments to the Department of public expenditure and reform? The process seems similar but it is taking much longer. Has the Taoiseach considered the procedure followed by the Minister without Portfolio? Is he happy with that procedure? Why did that take less time?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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We were anxious to move in respect of the creation of new Department of public expenditure and reform and to appoint a Secretary General to that Department. That process moved quickly, partly because the Deputy was asking why the Minister was not in the House to answer questions about the new Department. There is a board in place to deal with the expressions of interest and interviews for applicants for the post in the Department of children and youth affairs. That has been set up and people are being consulted.

As I understand it, an interview board has not been set up but that will happen shortly. It will be followed by a process to fill the position of Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach. The criteria that will be set out will include experience, competence and a capacity to manage and deal with personnel, other Departments and a broad range of issues. We will publish those criteria when they are available.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Rinne an Taoiseach trácht ar "economic management". Cad iad na céimeanna atá glactha ag an Taoiseach, taobh amuigh den jobs initiative, chun muinín a athchothú agus jabanna nua a chruthú?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Níl mé cinnte céard go díreach ata i gceist ag an Teachta. Bhí níos mó ná 14 cruinnithe ag an gcoiste sin. Tá an coiste ag díriú ar deireadh a chur leis na coscanna atá ann i leith jabanna agus forbairt eacnamaíochta a chruthú. Tá sé i gceist infheistíocht a dhéanamh, ó thaobh cúrsaí eacnamaíochta na tíre de, chun jabanna agus forbairt eacnamaíochta a chur i gcrích. Tá an coiste ag díriú go práinneach ar an forbairt sin a chur ar bun. Taispeánann sé sin go bhfuil an Rialtas ar fad dírithe ar an gcuspóir sin a chur i gcrích.