Page 3930 - Week 13 - Thursday, 17 October 1991
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Mr Berry: A silly question, Carmel.
MR CONNOLLY: It was a rather silly question, because we cannot refer to the detail; but I am confident that I have not misled anyone. But I would be happy, when we can refer to this, to have the debate rather more fully.
MS MAHER: Mr Speaker, I ask a supplementary question. Can the Minister give an assurance that the staffing allocation in the licensing related functions area of the children's day care services section will not be reduced in the term of this budget?
MR CONNOLLY: No, I have never been asked for that assurance and I will not give it, as I was - - -
Mr Kaine: You have just been asked for it now.
MR CONNOLLY: Indeed, and I will not give it, because we are looking to achieve savings in administrative staff. We are looking at savings in administrative staff. As I always said, we did not know where it would occur. As I had always said, I was confident that we would be able - - -
Mr Duby: There will be no staff reductions.
MR CONNOLLY: No, I have not said that; there is no such statement. There was a "No, no" to cut off a question and the statement:
And indeed, in all administrative areas, more efficiencies are being sought throughout the service.
When asked whether I was confident that we could do it with the same staff we have at the moment, I said, "Yes. You would be aware there has been significant administrative changes ...", and so I went on about administrative savings. I at no stage have given an assurance that no job would be lost in any area. Given the tenor of my repeated answers, to the intense chagrin of members, that we could not at that stage identify the position number, name, address and hair colour of administrative officers, it would have been absurd for me to have said anything different.
Minister for Housing and Community Services
MR DUBY: Mr Speaker, my question is also addressed to the Minister for Housing and Community Services. Can he assure the house - and I would ask him to think about the answer - that he has not misled the Estimates Committee?
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