Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 167: To ask the Taoiseach the number of Ministers of State appointed in the State at five year intervals from 1970 to date in 2008; and the present number of Ministers of State. [19573/08]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 168: To ask the Taoiseach the number of super Ministers of State in the State at 1970 and at five year intervals to date in 2008; and the present number of such persons appointed. [19574/08]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 168 together.

I take it that the Deputy's first question relates to Parliamentary Secretaries (as they then were) up to the coming into operation of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1977, which established the office of Minister of State, and to Ministers of State thereafter. The number of Parliamentary Secretaries standing appointed on 1 January 1970, was 6 and on 1 January 1975 was 7. The number of Ministers of State standing appointed on 1 January 1980 was 10 and on 1 January 1985, 1990 and 1995 was 15. On 1 January 2000 and 2005 there were 17 and currently there are 20.

I take it that the Deputy's second question refers to the practice initiated in 1994 whereby a Minister of State, in addition to the Chief Whip, normally attends meetings of the Government. On 1 January 1995, 2000 and 2008 there was one such Minister of State while on 1 January 2005 there was none.