Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1: To ask the Taoiseach if he has initiated any significant formal reviews of policy areas under his Department. [31041/11]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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My Department is involved on an ongoing basis in the review and implementation of Government policies in a range of areas through Cabinet committees and other co-ordinating mechanisms. However, I have not commissioned any significant formal policy reviews to be carried out directly by my Department.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Could we have a bit of order please? Thank you.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Sorry, what was the last sentence?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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That was outside the limit even of the sharp hearing of Deputy Martin. The last sentence was "However, I have not commissioned any significant formal policy reviews to be carried out directly by my Department."

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The reason I asked this question was to inquire about the policies outlined in the programme for Government. In particular, has the Taoiseach revised his commitment to have his office personally vet all ministerial appointments? We have had a significant number of appointments to State boards. The Taoiseach indicated that appointments would be made in a new and independent way and that he would personally oversee the implementation of that approach. Not only has this not happened, but the proportion of appointments that are reserved for the politically connected has actually shot up. The Taoiseach made great play of this in advance of the general election and since then, but I have observed an even more concerted programme of personal patronage by Ministers. The Department of the Taoiseach has historically played, and continues to play, a central role in judicial appointments, so the Taoiseach will, I take it, take personal responsibility for the fact that only 5% of appointments so far have not had a direct political connection to the Government.

Does the Taoiseach not think there is a need for such a review? He says the Department has not conducted any review, but with regard to appointments to State boards and to the Judiciary, the existing programme for Government and existing policy pronouncements by the Taoiseach himself indicate that he had intended to do something new and different. Has the Taoiseach reversed or revised that policy in any shape or form?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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No. In fact, to make it even stronger and clearer I am producing a standardised approach to appointments. Even the early reforms have been a quantum leap from where we were. There was a situation here for several years whereby no information could be given to anyone because of secret deals signed off between the Government of the day and a number of Independents.

One significant change is that chairpersons of State boards will go before Oireachtas committees to discuss their appointments, the criteria they bring and their suitability for appointment in the first place. As of today, the five chairpersons appointed by the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, have appeared before the relevant Oireachtas committees to discuss their appointments.

Several Departments have made a significant number of appointments. Of 23 appointments made in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, 12 came through the public route. Three of the new appointments made by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources are highly qualified people who applied after a call for applications. The Minister for Finance sought expressions of interest for appointments to the board of directors of the recapitalised banks and now has available to him a panel of 30 names of suitably qualified individuals for possible appointment to bank boards. I realise there was some comment in the media to the effect that all Departments were not following the criteria set down. I do not have all the detail but I gather in several of these cases no appointments or few were made by those Departments but I will check this as a matter of interest.

The policy we have set out is being enhanced and I will shortly bring before all Ministers a standardised form for the appointment of State board chairpersons and ordinary appointees. As Deputy Martin is aware, any judicial appointments are made by the Government. They arise through the judicial appointments advisory board and are approved on the nomination of the Minister for Justice and Equality.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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No one believes any change has taken place with regard to State appointments but I have made my point on the matter. I am somewhat surprised that the Taoiseach stated no formal review of policy has taken place because, as the Taoiseach is aware the Minister, Deputy Quinn, made it clear that he would reverse the increase in the student charge upon coming into office. He signed a specific pledge on the matter. Will the Taoiseach confirm whether the policy on student fees has been reviewed?

The Taoiseach stated he would complete a report card on each Minister as a result of the review.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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These are matters for the Minister for Education and Skills.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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How scores the report card in terms of the Minister, Deputy Quinn, and the pledge he has made to students on the student service charge?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Martin raised three issues. He stated there has been no change. I have just pointed out that five of the appointments as chairperson made by the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, have appeared before Oireachtas committees to discuss their suitability and appointments. This is a fundamental major change from what applied before.

I am aware that the Minister for Education and Skills is working on several proposals in respect of third level education costs. He has not brought his proposal to Government yet and it is not a matter for me as Taoiseach to reverse something I have not seen. The Minister for Education and Skills will bring forward his proposal in his own time. What was the third point mentioned by Deputy Martin?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It related to report cards. On "The Late Late Show", the Taoiseach stated there would be a report card for each Minister.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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These are matters for the Minister for Education and Skills.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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They are personal to me.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Is the Taoiseach doing them again?

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Will the Taoiseach indicate if we will ever see them?

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Taoiseach consider a review of policy on the payment of politicians' pensions? This year almost €8.8 million of taxpayers money was paid out in pensions for 109 former Ministers, may of whom are still in employment. What steps will the Taoiseach take to tackle this scandal?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I have taken decisions on this matter and they have been spelt out by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. They relate to all new entrants, the age at which they can receive pensions, non-payment of severance payments and the capping of pensions. A range of measures in this regard have been taken already by the Government in respect of all new entrants and these will apply from now on.