Vol. 730 Tuesday, No. 3 19 April 2011 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Dé Máirt, 19 Aibreán 2011. Business of Dáil ……………………………… 343 Ceisteanna—Questions Taoiseach ………………………………… 343 Minister for Defence Priority Questions …………………………… 356 Other Questions …………………………… 364 Adjournment Debate Matters …………………………… 370 Leaders’ Questions ……………………………… 370 Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 32 ……………… 377 Order of Business ……………………………… 377 Standing Order 103 Select Committee: Appointment of Members ……………… 387 Passenger Name Record Data: Motion ……………………… 387 Criminal Justice (Community Service) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2011: Second Stage (resumed)… … 396 Private Members’ Business Energy Resources: Motion ………………………… 408 Personal Explanation by Member ………………………… 427 Adjournment Debate Decentralisation Programme ………………………… 427 Company Takeovers …………………………… 429 Building Regulations …………………………… 434 Questions: Written Answers …………………………… 437 DÁIL ÉIREANN ———— Dé Máirt, 19 Aibreán 2011. Tuesday, 19 April 2011. ———— Chuaigh an Ceann Comhairle i gceannas ar 2.30 p.m. ———— Paidir. Prayer. ———— Business of Dáil An Ceann Comhairle: Before I call the Taoiseach for questions, I ask Deputies with mobile telephones to switch them off completely. As I indicated at our previous sitting, we lost the proceedings of the entire Order of Business for the RTE recording as a result of incoming text messages. Ceisteanna — Questions ———— Departmental Staff 1. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach when he will publish details of his proposal to reduce the permanent rather than political staffing of his Department [6666/11] 2. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the progress made in the restructuring of his Department including reduction in staff numbers for the entire Department rather than reassignments within the Department. [7685/11] 3. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the changes if any he has made or expects to make in spending allocations within his Department. [7686/11] 4. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if it is his intention to make any promotions to the civil service staff in his Department from outside the current ranks of the civil service during 2011 and which promotions are involved. [7689/11] 5. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the total estimated annual expenditure sav- ings to his Department as a result of changes which he has implemented since his appoint- ment. [7693/11] 6. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the units in his Department which he intends either cancelling or transferring to other Departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8192/11] 343 Ceisteanna — 19 April 2011. Questions 7. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach his plans for restructuring of staffing in his Department. [8367/11] The Taoiseach: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 7, inclusive, together. A new post of second Secretary General is being created in my Department which will support two important new mechanisms which are being established, namely, support for the Government economic management council and a new role in European Union co-ordination. This new approach in respect of EU co-ordination will support the Tánaiste and me, as appro- priate. The new second Secretary General will also co-ordinate support for the Tánaiste in his engagement with whole-of-government issues, including Cabinet committee structures. In addition, the post of Secretary General of my Department and Secretary General to the Government is due to become vacant in the near future and an appointment will be made shortly. The Government will decide in due course on the filling of these posts, for which expressions of interest have been invited from across the Civil Service in line with established practice. Over the coming weeks staff dealing with public service reform in my Department will transfer to the new Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. While the precise details of the move and the number of support staff that will be required to transfer are being finalised, I expect that approximately 25 staff will transfer. My Department’s Estimate provision for 2011 is €24.816 million. This will be reduced as a result of the transfer of sections and posts in my Department which have been engaged in work which now comes within the responsibility of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. I expect this transfer of functions will give rise to a whole year reduction in my Department’s Estimate of approximately €2 million. Deputy Micheál Martin: Will the Taoiseach indicate the reasons he has not opened up the positions to which he alluded, namely, Secretary General to the Government and the new position of Secretary General to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform? Only a number of weeks ago it was clearly stated that the former position would be publicly advertised. Likewise, the new position, the creation of which I support, marks a return to the position which obtained two or three years ago when there were two Secretaries General in the Department of the Taoiseach. Why have the two positions in question not been opened up to public advertise- ment given the very strong play the Taoiseach made before, during and since the general election that all senior positions within the public service and Civil Service would be open to applicants outside the Civil Service? A specific promise was recently made in regard to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. As seven questions have been grouped, including six of mine, I would appreciate the oppor- tunity to ask a number of supplementary questions pertaining to different aspects of those questions. However, that is the central question for now. The Taoiseach: The Secretary General posts in the Departments of the Taoiseach and Fin- ance do not come within the ambit of the Top Level Appointments Committee, TLAC, but are matters for decision by the Government directly, as are the posts of the Secretary General to the President, the Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners. All suitable officers at a senior level in the Civil Service are considered for such appointments but it has been the practice to invite expressions of interest. In doing so, the opportunity was taken to include the posts of Secretary General to my Depart- ment and Secretary General to the Government, where a vacancy is due to arise in a few 344 Ceisteanna — 19 April 2011. Questions months. Expressions of interest received by yesterday evening are being compiled and the filling of the posts will be considered by the Government in the near future. Deputy Micheál Martin: I understand the positions are not covered by TLAC and I am not asking about established practice because the Taoiseach promised to break from established practice in filling positions of this kind. He specifically said he would open these positions to applications from outside the public service and Civil Service. Why has he decided not to do that? The Taoiseach: While we have revised the structure of TLAC, these posts are not subject to TLAC and are outside it as they are appointed directly by Government. Deputy Micheál Martin: That is not the point. The Taoiseach: They are sensitive positions, all with responsibility attached to them. Given the numbers involved, we should wait to study the list of expressions of interest and how that should be considered. These are fundamentally important positions for any Government. That is the way it is. Deputy Micheál Martin: I know they are important positions. It was the Taoiseach who made the promise that people from outside would be invited to apply for these positions. Despite this, he has decided on this occasion not to open up these positions to outside people. Why has the Taoiseach taken this decision given it was he who made the commitment? I know all about established practice and TLAC. Why did the Taoiseach change his mind from a position he held not so long ago in regard to inviting in people from outside? I am not just talking about the Secretary General to the Government, the appointment of a new second Secretary General to the Department of the Taoiseach or in regard to the new Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, headed by the Minister, Deputy Howlin. Only weeks ago, a specific commitment was made that this would require external expertise and that such expertise would be brought in. That clearly has not materialised and I want to know why. The Taoiseach: As I said, with regard to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, the Government has agreed to change the structure of TLAC. It is part of the Government’s programme that there be the opportunity for people from outside the existing public service to bring in expertise, competence and management skills, which is already happening. The appointments of Secretaries General to the Government and to the Departments of Finance and the Taoiseach have never come within TLAC. All I have sought at present are expressions of interest. The closing period was yesterday and I have not even seen the range, the list or the numbers of those who have expressed interest in these positions. I will report progress to the House as I discuss this with the Government. Deputy Gerry Adams: Tá mé buíoch don Taoiseach as an freagra a thug sé, ach sílim nach bhfuil sé soiléir nó nach bhfuil difear mór idir an slí ina bhfuil an Taoiseach ag dul ar aghaidh agus an slí in ar déileáil Fianna Fáil le ceisteanna mar seo. Does the Taoiseach agree that any restructuring of staffing in his Department must be about making it more efficient and transparent, about savings in Government spending, and about the delivery of services for the benefit of citizens? Have any savings been made in a monetary sense? For example, in the case of money spent on advisers since the Taoiseach came into power, have there been savings in comparison with the position taken by the last Government on this issue? 345 Ceisteanna — 19 April 2011.