Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

This Bill is required to give effect to the decision by the Government to increase the maximum number of Ministers of State from 17 to 20. As Senators will be aware, the number has remained unchanged since 1995, when section 1 of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1995 increased the maximum from 15 to 17.

I will outline for the House some of the key reasons behind the proposal in this Bill. The major consideration, as in 1995, is that of workload. Since 1995, the quantum and quality of ministerial work has increased significantly as a result of the greater complexity of the policy agenda, the management pressures in giving political direction to extensive Government programmes, and the increased engagement with stakeholders at all levels, both domestically and in Europe. A Minister of State may receive delegated powers from a Minister in accordance with the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1977. As a new Government is in place, all such previous orders have lapsed and require to be renewed. The Government will ensure that all necessary delegation of ministerial functions orders are made as early as practicable.

While Government workloads have grown everywhere in Europe, Ireland is affected by additional factors. The population has increased significantly and continues to do so. The economy has grown rapidly to create opportunities to address and prioritise a wider range of issues while generating public demand for enhanced and improved public services. To protect and sustain economic growth and competitiveness, we require improved infrastructure and public transport and greater investment in education, research and development.

Many of the new challenges we face are cross-cutting and of their nature require cross-departmental responses. For example, while the increase in the number of people coming to live and work in Ireland over the past ten years represents a welcome concomitant of economic growth, increased job opportunities and enhanced social and public services, it presents real challenges in the provision of public services across a number of fronts. The provision of education services to the significant number of newcomers creates new and increased demands on teaching resources and language support. These factors must be considered in conjunction with an ageing population, the increasing importance of lifelong education and the promotion of innovation in the educational and enterprise sectors. As such, they necessitate increased focus and activity during this Dáil on integration policy, lifelong learning, innovation, children, disability and older people.

The management of the asylum-seeking process has perhaps tended to overshadow the effective integration of much larger numbers of immigrants overall. The immigration experiences of other countries demonstrate that the most important factor in avoiding socio-demographic problems down the line is the effective integration of immigrant groups with indigenous populations and, indeed, each other. Where integration has been mishandled or neglected, the long-term economic and social consequences have proved deleterious and even disastrous. As relative latecomers to the role of recipient country, we have the opportunity to avoid the mistakes made in certain other states. We are anxious to address integration in a measured, focused and strategic fashion to which end the Government has appointed a Minister of State with responsibility for integration policy. Integration is a cross-cutting issue in which a number of Departments are concerned. Accordingly, it is envisaged that expertise will be drawn from a number of Departments and State bodies to develop a coherent national policy informed by global best practice and tailored to the needs of Irish society and those immigrants lawfully resident here.

The programme for Government contains a specific pledge to designate a Minister of State with responsibility for older people. The commitment was made in recognition of the fact that older people constitute an increasingly important area of public policy arising from demographic changes and merit increased and intensified focus. In 2006, persons aged 65 and over represented approximately 11% of the population, but this percentage is estimated to rise to 14.1% by 2011 and to 20% by 2036. Planning for an ageing population must begin now and encompass problems of special relevance to this older cadre. Such planning must address the development of services for older people nationally, including palliative care services, as well as nursing home capacity and standards. As the programme for Government indicates, a central element of planning will be the preparation of a national positive ageing strategy, a major objective of which will be to maximise the independence of older people and make it easier for them to stay in their own homes.

These are only indicative examples, but I believe they also reinforce the need for extra assistance at Minister of State level. Public policy has become more complex as our society has grown and developed. We are all aware of the need to tackle various policy issues in a cross-departmental and more focused manner. This has been a successful approach in the past, as I know from my experience in dealing with issues, such as drugs and homelessness. The increase in the number of Ministers of State will enable the Government to extend this cross-cutting approach to the many issues in which more than one Department has a significant role.

I believe the additional Ministers of State will play a valuable role in the delivery of our extensive programme for Government, and, accordingly, I commend the Bill to the House.