Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

I second Senator Cummins's proposal for an amendment to the Order of Business. It is a serious matter that the Minister for Transport and the Marine, Deputy Dempsey, was not informed of the major decision regarding Aer Lingus's route from Shannon to Heathrow, even though his officials were aware of it and a note was placed in a file to be bought to his attention. We all remember the statement made by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, formerly Minister for Health and Children, on the issue of nursing home charges. In that instance, a senior official was moved sideways because of his failure to inform the Minister on this matter.

I recently came across a case where an official refused — although this was later circumvented — to bring a report that was commissioned in the Minister's name and produced in conjunction with an external autonomous body to that Minister's attention. Is this a sign of a growing "Yes, Minister" syndrome or is it simply an increase in the number of Sir Humphreys in the Civil Service?