Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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342. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the delegated responsibilities he has given to Ministers of State in his Department; when the order of delegated responsibility was signed; if he included his Ministers of State in direct discussions or meetings with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform as part of pre-budget discussions; if so, the dates of such meetings and the attendance at each meeting; if the Minister of State was not included the reason this was the position, in view of the designated responsibilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31916/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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There are two Ministers of State at my Department, Joe McHugh T.D. and Dara Murphy, T.D. Minister McHugh has special responsibility for the Diaspora and International Development. Minister Murphy has special responsibility for European Affairs and Data Protection at my Department and at the Departments of An Taoiseach and Justice and Equality.

The Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1977 provides for the delegation of statutory Ministerial powers and duties to Ministers of State. This may be done at the request of the Minister concerned, by Government Order. My statutory powers as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade relate to consular, passport and other technical matters and it is not the practice, nor is it considered necessary, to delegate these functions.

As part of the pre-budget discussions, I met with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on 28th September last, to discuss the Department's needs for the year ahead.