Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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459. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the delegated functions assigned to the Minister of State with responsibility for EU affairs; and the date those delegated functions come into effect. [15040/20]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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460. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the delegated functions assigned to the Minister of State with responsibility for overseas development aid and diaspora; and the date those delegated functions come into effect. [15047/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 459 and 460 together.

There are two Ministers of State at my Department, Thomas Byrne T.D. and Colm Brophy, T.D.. Minister Byrne was appointed Minister of State with responsibility for EU Affairs at my Department and at the Department of the Taoiseach on 1 July 2020. Minister Brophy was appointed Minister of State with responsibility for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora at my Department on 1 July 2020.

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.