I wrote to the Taoiseach on 3 July in regard to the delay in filling the position of Secretary General-Clerk of the Dáil post which is to become vacant on 5 August 2013. The Clerk will retire tomorrow and we might have an opportunity to speak on that issue.

I wrote a lengthy letter to the Taoiseach in which I pointed out that the process relating to the appointment of the Clerk or Secretary General of the Dáil should be transparent and accountable. In December 2012 the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, gave a commitment to amend the Staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas Act 1959, which he described as being outmoded and in need of change. His predecessor in the Department of Finance made similar comments in 2009. During a Topical Issue debate on 15 May 2013, the Minister stated:

I believe the objective in filling top posts of the Houses of the Oireachtas service should be to employ professionally organised and independent competitive selection mechanisms such as those that exist throughout the wider Civil Service to ensure the best possible person is selected from as wide a pool of talent as possible to lead the parliamentary service in future.

I accept that the nomination of a suitable candidate for appointment by the Taoiseach rests solely with the Ceann Comhairle, following consultation with the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission. In light of all of the pledges made in respect of public and transparent selection processes and in view of the way in which the House has modernised and evolved to date, will the Taoiseach indicate the current status of the legislation in respect of which the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, made a commitment? Is it the Taoiseach's intention that the process relating to filling the position in question will be as wide-ranging and transparent as possible and that it will reflect the spirit of the programme for Government? There have been commitments from those on all sides to the effect that as wide as possible a range of people should be in a position to apply for consideration under the selection process.

The Deputy has made his point.

This is a very important issue.

I am sure it is, but we are on the Order of Business and Deputies should inquire about promised legislation.

This is the final opportunity I will have to raise the matter prior to the summer recess.

The existing legislation bestows responsibility and roles in this regard on both the Ceann Comhairle and the Taoiseach. Deputy Martin can take it that the process which will be put in place will be open, transparent and accountable.

Will the Taoiseach write back to me?

Of course I will write back to the Deputy.

It has been a month since I wrote to the Taoiseach.

I will write to the Deputy at length and in good time.

This is a serious issue.

We are not discussing letters here. The Taoiseach provided the Deputy with a reply.

Members would like to know how the key administrative position in the House is going to the filled.

Exactly, and it will be filled.

We are not going to be informed as to how it will be filled. That is contrary to everything which has been said to date.

The Deputy inquired about legislation and the Taoiseach provided a reply.

It is also contrary to everything the Government indicated would happen.

The Deputy is suggesting it will not be open, accountable and transparent.

We have had no transparency from the Taoiseach on it and no proposals have been forthcoming.

I shall write to the Deputy.

We have no sense of what is going to happen and this is despite all the commitments given by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin.

I shall write to the Deputy and explain all.

Legislation was promised and it has not been forthcoming.

Deputy Martin should resume his seat.

What is happening is regrettable. The House is being badly treated.