Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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16. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to confirm that all Ministers of State within his Department have had their ministerial powers delegated to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22132/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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There are two Ministers of State at my department, Mr Thomas Byrne TD and Mr Neale Richmond TD. On 29 January 2025, Minister Byrne was appointed Minister of State with responsibility for European Affairs, and Minister Richmond was appointed Minister of State with responsibility for International Development and Diaspora.

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 relate to consular, passport and other technical matters and it is not the practice, nor is it considered necessary, to delegate these functions.