Margaret Cox (Independent)

I thank the Leader for his consideration. It gives me great pleasure to speak on this legislation, although I understand my time is short.

One part of this legislation which disappoints me is that it may have perhaps been the opportune time to take a broader look at what we needed to do in the reviewing of junior ministerial positions within Government. I have no difficulty in accepting there is a need for greater numbers and the appointment of additional portfolios. My difficulty stems from an examination I conducted on the geographical spread of the Ministers and Ministers of State.

It may interest the House and the Minister of State to know that of the 15 members of the Cabinet, there are only four from the Border, midlands and west region. That includes Deputy Cowen, who I would place in Leinster rather than the Border, midlands and west region. There are four from elsewhere and seven in the Dublin area. That makes a statement.

Considering the junior ministerial posts as they have been allocated, we have very fine Ministers of State, including Deputies Smith, Gallagher, Devins and Michael Kitt. There are four Ministers of State from the Border, midlands and west region. I would like to record my disappointment that constituencies in the west did not get a greater spread. There is a lack of transparency, and I understand it is at the discretion of the Taoiseach of the day.

Is it not time for us to look at this and consider what, geographically, is best for the country? It should not be about what is best for the particular parliamentary party in power at the time, but what is best for the country. What is best for corporate Ireland, as the Leader stated yesterday? How do we keep it moving?

There could be an option, even through the Government's tenure, for a change, so there would be some kind of equality in the system for all the constituencies. Every constituency in the country is entitled to representation at the Cabinet table or junior ministerial level.

Only four Ministers of State, some 20% of the total of 20, are from the BMW region, which makes a statement. It is probably part of the reason we see what we would have spoken of in the past, an imbalance in the development between one part of the country and the other. We have an opportunity, as we go into the next five years, to consider this issue. I appeal to the Minister of State to put this on the Government radar and accept that we need not only the Seanad reform we spoke of earlier, but that perhaps it is time to review how posts are allocated for the good of the country.

I do not have a difficulty with the decision to appoint additional Ministers of State, particularly if there is a perceived need for them. I have not tabled an amendment for Committee Stage but perhaps the Minister of State would take on board, in the context of the good of the country, the need for greater transparency and a better geographical spread as regards these appointments.