Dáil debates

Tuesday, 6 March 2012

Other Questions (Resumed)

Departmental Staff

3:00 pm

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1: To ask the Taoiseach the number of staff in his Department availing of the early retirement scheme; the positions they held; if they will be replaced; if services will be affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7779/12]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 2: To ask the Taoiseach the way his Department is being decreased in size to transform into a Cabinet office that oversees the delivery of the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9357/12]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 3: To ask the Taoiseach the number of staff and grades they hold in his Department in March 2011 and in February 2012 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9358/12]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 4: To ask the Taoiseach the number of staff and grades held that are employed in the Government Information Service and those who service MerrionStreet.ie; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9359/12]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 5: To ask the Taoiseach the number of persons who will be given the responsibility for the implementation of the 2012 Action Plan for Jobs in his Department; if there will be additional persons recruited or if they will be transferred from other Departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9361/12]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 6: To ask the Taoiseach the number of speech writers he has that do not normally work in his Department; the way they are paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9364/12]

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 7: To ask the Taoiseach the number due to leave his Department under the early retirement scheme by the end of February; the grades of same; if they will be replaced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10764/12]

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 8: To ask the Taoiseach the progress that has been made to transform his Department into a Cabinet office to streamline Government and oversee the implementation of the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11049/12]

Photo of Joe HigginsJoe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 9: To ask the Taoiseach the number of persons that will be given responsibility in his Department for the implementation of the 2012 Action Plan for Jobs; if additional persons will be recruited or will they come from other Departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12520/12]

Photo of Joe HigginsJoe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 10: To ask the Taoiseach the number of staff who were to leave his Department under the retirement scheme by the end of February; their grades; if they will be replaced;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12521/12]

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 10, inclusive, together.

Following the restructuring completed in 2011, my Department is now engaged on core activities which focus on supporting the Taoiseach and supporting the Government.

The Department has undergone significant change in the past 12 months. A new Economic Management Council, a new Programme for Government Office and a new Office of the Tánaiste, within the Department of the Taoiseach, have been established.

The Cabinet Committee structure has been changed. Other significant changes include a new integrated European affairs division, involving the transfer of 18 staff and functions from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to the Department of the Taoiseach; the transfer of 27 staff and functions relating to public service reform from the Department of the Taoiseach to the new Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; the adoption of a different approach to social dialogue by the new Government, which replaces the previous social partnership process and places a greater emphasis on the role of line Departments rather than a centralised process managed by the Department of the Taoiseach.

Following the restructuring completed in 2011, my Department is now engaged in the following core activities: the executive functions of the Taoiseach and the Government; the Government secretariat, my private office and the offices of the Government Chief Whip and the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs; the Office of the Tánaiste; the Government press office; support for the Taoiseach in carrying out my duties as Head of Government, including in relation to the Oireachtas, constitutional issues, protocol, the European Council, the North/South Ministerial Council and the British-Irish Council; engaging with the formulation and implementation of Government policy, mainly through the system of Cabinet committees, including the Economic Management Council, senior officials groups and the new Programme for Government Office; providing briefing and advice for me on the full range of domestic policy issues and on international affairs; supporting the Government and myself in the formulation and implementation of EU policy, including the co-ordination of EU policy interests across the whole of Government; and delivering support services through corporate affairs division, that is, HR, finance, IT and other services.

All of these functions are carried out within a staff ceiling of 185, which will rise temporarily to over 200 arising from Ireland's Presidency of the EU in 2013. Overall, there has been a reduction in staff numbers of 20% since January 2008. It should also be borne in mind that my Department is the smallest Department, with an annual budget of under €20 million.

The details requested in regard to staff numbers in my Department in March 2011 and to date are set out in the table, which I propose to circulate with the Official Report. I am also proposing to circulate with the Official Report the details requested regarding the number of staff employed in the Government Information Service and www.merrionstreet.ie. Two staff from Forfás are on loan to my Department to work on the implementation of the action plan for jobs.

My advisors work closely with the civil servants in my Department on the preparation of speech material. One of my personal assistants is involved in this process and works on an e-working basis. Three members of staff in my Department retired in February 2012, comprising one principal officer, one executive officer who work-shared and one head service officer. The staffing needs of my Department are kept under ongoing review in order to ensure that it meets its objectives, and sanction has been received from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to fill a small number of vacancies through internal competitions.

My advisors work closely with the civil servants in my Department on the preparation of speech material. One of my personal assistants is involved in this process and works on an e-working basis. Three members of staff in my Department retired in February 2012, comprising one principal officer, one executive officer who work-shared and one head service officer. The staffing needs of my Department are kept under ongoing review in order to ensure that it meets its objectives, and sanction has been received from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to fill a small number of vacancies through internal competitions.

GradeNumber of WTEs Employedin March 2011Number of WTEs Employedat end February 2012
Secretary General11
Second Secretary General01
Assistant Secretary43
Principal Officer13.67
Counsellor02
Assistant Principal22.418.4
First Secretary03
Higher Executive Officer22.324.2
Administrative Officer84
Third Secretary04
Executive Officer20.223.2
Staff Officer10.437.83
Clerical Officer39.536.3
Support Staff19.5818
Special Advisers55
Personal Assistants76
Personal Secretary33
Government Press Secretary11
Deputy Government Press Secretary and Head of GIS11
Assistant Government Press Secretary01
Press Officers35
Civilian Driver to Leader of the Seanad11
Total182.01175.93

Merrionstreet.ie

GradeNumber of WTEs Employed
Government Press Secretary1
Deputy Government Press Secretary and Head of GIS1
Assistant Government Press Secretary1
Press and Information Officer1 - (AP)
Press Officers1 - (AP)3 - (HEO)1 - (AO)
Executive Officer3
Staff Officer1
Clerical Officer3
Total16

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I asked six of the questions in this block of ten questions. Rather than spending too much time on this aspect, it is worth noting from the information the Taoiseach has supplied that his promise to slim down the Department of the Taoiseach radically has clearly been abandoned and the same goes for his nine-year promise to get rid of what he used to call the propaganda units in the Government Information Service. This is very similar to the "not another red cent"-type promises he made, which were only designed to last as long as the election itself. As the Taoiseach knows, he had very strong stuff to say about www.merrionstreet.ie and the GIS but he very quickly and warmly embraced them and continues to endorse their output and work.

The other key issue the Taoiseach alluded to, and it is the biggest change that has occurred, is the transfer of the European division from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to his own Department, with over 80 staff. I questioned this at the time in terms of coherence and integration with the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade itself. The logic of that decision has never been clear because, even up to that period, the co-ordination of European policy was very effective and was acknowledged as such.

The core network we rely upon in our relations with our European partners remains within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. I am sure the Taoiseach is aware the Tánaiste has reinstated a European affairs section in Iveagh House, led by an assistant secretary. Will the Taoiseach explain how he considers it an improvement to have two sections in two different Departments responsible for co-ordinating European affairs? In many ways this was an inevitable consequence of his decision to take the entire entity of European affairs to the Department of the Taoiseach. In addition, if questions are asked of the Taoiseach on the North or on European affairs, why are some of them automatically referred to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade?

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I do not know why some of them are automatically referred. Obviously, it depends on the nature of the question. I am quite happy to answer questions in respect of Northern Ireland and my responsibilities in that regard.

On the individual programmes of the two parties before the Government was formed, the Deputy is aware that each one had its own view. Obviously, the programme for Government is what we operate from.

As I said, 18 staff of the EU division and their functions were transferred from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to the Department of the Taoiseach. I discussed this at the very beginning. The point made was that if one wants real co-ordination on an issue that now crosses all Departments, given we have a changed situation in so far as Europe is concerned as well as the impending Presidency, one is better to have it co-ordinated and overseen by the Department of the Taoiseach. While senior civil servants are needed from other Departments - I say this with the greatest of respect to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - it is much easier and has greater strength to have it coming from the Department of the Taoiseach, where it is guaranteed that senior personnel will be appointed to the issues of the day, as it were.

In that sense, that suggestion was made to me from personnel within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade itself. From my experience, the appointment of the second Secretary General dealing with the European issues has brought a cohesion and a co-ordination that is very real and responsive. Where issues arise of European significance and where civil and public servants from other Departments are required to be in attendance, there is always a full response to that because it is coming from the Office of the Taoiseach itself, not just from myself as the person who occupies that office. The impact of it has been very real, in my view, and very responsive in the interests of getting the job done more efficiently and more quickly. I certainly cannot fault the way it is now operating.

I do not know about the Deputy's comment on setting up another section in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Presumably, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade has a number of people there in so far as the foreign affairs end of matters is concerned in order to be able to co-ordinate with the Second Secretary General dealing with European affairs in my Department.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I would argue that, across the foreign affairs brief, it is vital there would be a coherence and an integration. It is not just about Europe on its own.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Yes.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is about how Europe interacts with the emerging countries, including in Asia and South America, and European policy is critical to that relationship with other parts of the world. The idea that a section on European affairs stands alone is misplaced in terms of the conduct of foreign policy. On the evolution of European policy and how it relates to other blocs across the world, it is arguable that an integrated and coherent approach is needed. If the section and the leadership is taken out of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, that connectivity and strong linkage between what is happening in Brussels and Europe is lost in terms of informing the rest of the diplomatic service on the issues.

With regard to the action plan for jobs, the Taoiseach said two staff were seconded from Forfás. I argue that the plan is not radical. It was over-claimed and over-spun, and was very much based on news management of existing proposals given many of the measures were already agreed or were part of strategies that had already been published. The Taoiseach indicated, when he launched the plan with the Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton, that there would be a radical departure in the co-ordination of policies. How can this be credible if so few people are actually given specific responsibility for it, even in the Taoiseach's Department?

4:00 pm

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In respect of the jobs action programme, there are 270 action points. It is fair to say some of these have been around for a very long time and were never followed through or implemented. There is a range of new initiatives to improve the atmosphere and the environment in which business can happen and jobs can be created, and to free up the road blocks that business people, entrepreneurs and innovators say are stopping them from doing their business. I get examples of this on a regular basis.

As to what we have decided to do, a senior public servant in my Department has responsibility for jobs, and he has a number of staff working with him. The two I mentioned are additional staff from Forfás who have come into my Department to assist in the work of monitoring implementation of the 270 action points. It is not just these two people on their own. It is a coterie within the Department of the Taoiseach who have responsibility for jobs and the jobs action programme.

As they are further assisted by the addition of two good people from Forfás I, as Taoiseach, working with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, can see to it that on this occasion, the action plan is implemented. That means one puts the pressure on the Ministers to deliver, so far as their responsibility is concerned, and on the agencies, for whom they have responsibility, to ensure this happens. I hope that as we publish a quarterly report on the action points implemented this will improve the environment and atmosphere generally for business and that what small businesses say to the Minister responsible for SMEs, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, me and everybody else will result in improving the position in terms of companies setting up and being able to do their work. Clearly credit access and microfinance are two important matters in this regard.

It is slightly misleading for me to say that there are just two people monitoring this matter. There is a section in the Department of the Taoiseach which has responsibility for the jobs area and they are being supplemented by two internal people from Forfás, redeployed to the Department of the Taoiseach. I hope it bears results and I expect it will.

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Tá dhá cheist agam - Ceisteanna Uimh. 7 agus 8 - so leanfaidh mé ar aghaidh le Ceist Uimh. 7 agus tiocfaidh mé ar ais arís le Ceist Uimh. 8. We learned last week that 9,000 staff are leaving the public service. To the surprise of some of his Cabinet colleagues, the Taoiseach spoke about transition teams that were put in place. Are those transition teams in place? An bhfuil siad ag bualadh le chéile go fóill agus cé chomh minic a bhuail siad? Má tá said ag bualadh, cén dul chun cinn atá déanta acu? Has progress been made and how is the transition being managed? From my soundings around health professionals, health workers and so on I have a sense there is no real plan in place to deal with the ongoing crisis in the health service where 4,300 workers are leaving and there are €700 million worth of cuts. It would be useful to get a sense of how the exodus and the cuts are being managed.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The latest figures from across the public service indicate that more than 7,500 people applied to retire in January and February 2012. Those figures are based on data reported by all of the public service employers on the number of retirement applications that have been received. It will take some time for the final figures of actual retirements to be determined, taking into account those who may have changed their mind before 29 February. The sectoral breakdown is as follows: education section, 3,058; the Civil Service, 1,236; the health sector, 2,640; local authorities, 931; Defence Forces, 362; and the Garda 310, amounting to a total of 7,537. Retirement numbers do not always equate with full-time equivalents. While these were taking place over a telescoped period in January and February, rather than a longer time span, local management had to assess and address the level of staff departures and ensure continuity of business and service maintenance. Between the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the representatives of sectors and other Departments they have not highlighted any areas of major concern resulting from retirements to mid-February that could not in the main be addressed through redeployment and redistribution of work. In limited cases where critical posts have been identified in front-line services and in key policy areas they may need to be filled to meet business needs.

There was a great deal of public comment about what would happen in respect of the health sector where clearly people on the front-line were opting to retire from the service, causing concern and anxiety that services could not be maintained. The Cabinet sub-committee on health had a meeting with all the regional directors of service who have signed off on plans for each individual hospital. In regard to the issues that arise from week to week, at weekends and issues that had not even been contemplated they have all signed off on their plans. I am pleased to say that full co-operation and flexibility has been shown under the Croke Park agreement by medical teams, clinical teams and nursing staff for which we should be very grateful.

In the education area arrangements are in place for managing the impact of the retirement of teachers, some of whom have been replaced. Retiring teachers of State examination classes can be re-employed until the end of the school year. That is because teachers obviously form a bond with their pupils in the junior and leaving certificate classes and it is important that not be disrupted in the study structure of students as they prepare for the junior and leaving certificate examinations. The National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, has been reconfigured into eight rather than ten regions, resulting in the suppression of two regional director posts. In third level, universities and the higher education institutions manage the retirements at the end of February in these institutions in the overall context of managing within the ceilings that have been allocated to them. The same applies in the case of the Garda, prisons, other State Departments, the courts and the Judiciary. Each Minister has an important responsibility in working with the groups on the ground to ensure pressure points are dealt with and relieved in the best way possible. Those are the up-to-date figures I have got. Given that a small number of people change their minds at the last minute that may impact on some of those figures.

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Minister for his reply which is very informative. However, my questions were specifically about the transition teams he announced. To the best of my recollection he did not mention them in the course of that very detailed response to my question. In terms of the crisis in the health service I dealt with the case of a 96 year old lady who was on a trolley for three days in Beaumont Hospital. She was still on the trolley until I asked my office to intervene and, God knows, she could still be there.

The reason we are asking these questions is to try to get the Government working better and to keep it accountable. I raised earlier the issue of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and so on. I have here the question and answer that we dealt with on 23 November. There is something wrong with a Government which gives a specific commitment both in meeting the leaders of the Opposition and coming forward with a request for a commission of inquiry, with which the Taoiseach agreed in opposition and clearly has done nothing about. To say he is still waiting for a response from the Attorney General from November until March on the back of 17 years of campaigning by the people involved shows the Government is not functioning properly.

Question No. 8, which the Taoiseach dealt with in response to the questions from Teachta Martin, asks about the notion of the implementation of the programme for Government and how he is trying to change his Department in order that it becomes a Cabinet office. Are there plans to bring forward reports assessing the progress made on implementation and how is the House informed about these matters? Without wishing to be hankering on this issue, I have raised it four or five times and have been given more or less the same answers. That shows a failure of government. I know it is not deliberate or malicious and that the Taoiseach is genuine and regards this as a serious issue that needs to be dealt with but what dsyfunctionality in government prevents this from proceeding?

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

There is no dysfunctionality within the Government. I expect to launch tomorrow the report on implementation of the programme for Government to date. A number of the major measures committed to in the programme by both parties have been put in place or are in train. The Deputy will be aware the programme is for a five year period. Ministers are also dealing with a range of serious issues not contained in the programme, some of which are legislative matters, while others arose and had to be dealt with. Completion of work not committed to in the programme will be reflected in the next report. The report I intend to launch tomorrow will detail the actionable measures relevant to each Minister which have been delivered, cannot be delivered or remain to be dealt with into the future.

The Deputy has said the Government has not responded to requests for the establishment of a commission of inquiry. He will be aware that a referendum was held on the issue of Oireachtas committees being given the power to investigate matters of public importance, which clearly this matter is. However, the people did not agree, as is their right. It may well be that they were not given adequate time or sufficient information to absorb what was involved. As stated, this would have been an appropriate matter for an Oireachtas committee to investigate in the public interest. The Minister for Health has sought the advice of the Attorney General on how to proceed. When that advice is to hand, I will make it known to the Deputy and everyone else, including Deputies from the area concerned. In view of the sensitivity attached to and importance of this matter to so many, we must consider how best to proceed in the circumstances. I await the advice of the Attorney General and ask the Deputy to be patient for a little while longer.

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I call Deputy Micheál Martin.

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

May I ask a question related to the issue I have just raised?

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is not an issue on the agenda.

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is related to it.

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It has nothing to do with the questions tabled by the Deputy. I have been very lenient. If Deputy Micheál Martin gives way, I will allow the Deputy to ask one more question.

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Ceann Comhairle and Deputy Micheál Martin for giving way and will be brief. The questions I asked on this issue were asked following the referendum and I can quote them if the Taoiseach wishes. He gave a commitment that the Minister for Health would meet the people involved, but that has not happened. He also gave a commitment that he would meet me, as well as other Opposition leaders. He told us previously that there was funding in place when there was not. However, he has rectified that today and told us he was working on that assumption. These are genuine issues.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I do not want to have meetings for the sake of it. I would like there to be a purpose and a conclusion to a meeting, following which we could move on. It might be in everyone's interest to await the advice of the Attorney General's office on this matter. As I said, I had expected that we would be able, following the reversal of the Abbeylara case decision, to have an Oireachtas investigation into this matter of public importance. However, that is not now possible. We must consider what is the best thing to do in the interests of those to whom the Deputy referred who feel hurt, rightly so, at what happened in these horrific cases. From that point of view, I will inform the House and Deputies from the north east as soon as the Attorney General's advice is to hand.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Taoiseach's response on this issue is disingenuous, given the commission of inquiry legislation which is on the Statute Book which was used effectively in the Cloyne and Dublin inquiries. I would never have thought an Oireachtas inquiry would be suitable in this case. There is ample scope under the existing commission of inquiry legislation to investigate issues such as this professionally and effectively.

On the issue of early retirements, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, spent much of last year praising himself for revolutionising the public sector and strategically planning everything. In reality, there has been a complete failure to prepare strategically in terms of having contingency plans in place to cover vital services. I would appreciate an explanation of why transition teams were an after-thought.

It is clear the commitment to slim down the Taoiseach's Department to a British-style Cabinet Office has been abandoned. If anything, the Department is growing. The Taoiseach has stated the number of staff in his Department will grow to over 200 during Ireland's Presidency of the European Union. In this regard, he has used the baseline figure for 2008, which is becoming a habit. The Taoiseach's staff are good at news managment and spinning, which is admirable from a particular vantage point.

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

A question, please, Deputy.

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

We are considering recruiting the make-up staff again.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The baseline figure for 2010 would be far more relevant. Be that as it may, it is fair to say the Taoiseach's Department is expanding, which flies in the face of all that was promised in advance of the general election, as I am sure the Taoiseach will acknowledge. Nowhere is this more evident than on the European side.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As I stated previously to the Deputy, all of these functions are performed under a staff ceiling of 185. The Department of the Taoiseach is the smallest and has a budget of only €20 million. The staff include one Secretary General, one Second Secretary General, three assistant secretaries, seven principal officers, 18 assistant principal officers, three first secretaries and staff of various grades.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

A commitment was given to reduce staff numbers.

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The make-up staff are gone.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The ceiling is 175.9 which is lower than previously. The Department of the Taoiseach is a fit, lean, competent Department which is-----

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Expanding.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

-----delivering on its objectives in terms of output, as it should.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Who will the Taoiseach grab next?

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I said at the time of the appointment of the new Secretary General that the Department would be reformed into a coherent, cohesive, responsive and efficient Department, which it is. The Deputy will appreciate, having served as a Minister in an important Ministry when Ireland last held the Presidency, that it is necessary to recruit temporary staff to deal with Presidency matters during the first half of next year. A great deal of work in that regard is under way.

When in Brussels last week I attended the first tripartite social interaction meeting between the Danish Presidency, the Cypriot Presidency and the Irish Presidency. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the trade unions of Europe and employer and business interests. Staff numbers when Ireland holds the Presidency next year will increase to more than 200 for a period. That aside, the Department is slim and in good shape. Its staff are working hard.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Expanding all the way.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Their noses are to the grindstone. I have put out the word that when the Department of the Taoiseach comes calling-----

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Do not worry about my election document, that is all it was.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

-----people should be responsive and ready.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Do not worry about commitments or promises. They can ignore them.

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

They all eat breakfast at home.