LABOUR LEADER Eamon Gilmore predicted that the renaming of Government departments would cost several million euro to implement.

He said that when the Department of Social Welfare became the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs in 1997, it cost €2 million to change the logos on its headed paper and the nameplates outside its offices.

On Tuesday, the Taoiseach had announced name changes for five departments, with the possibility of a sixth because responsibility for equality was to be transferred to the new Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht affairs from justice.

“If it cost €2 million to change the name of one department in 1997, how many millions of euro will it cost to change the names of six departments in 2010?” he asked.

Brian Cowen said he had made various changes to certain departments and sought to indicate the new emphasis that would be brought to bear by the relevant department in respect of, for example, innovation.

“The latter is at the heart of an industrial policy that will drive the investment strategies of businesses that will be contacted by IDA Ireland and which will work with Enterprise Ireland. That is the purpose of what I have done.

“Whatever consequential changes arise must be dealt with sensibly and in the normal way.”

Mr Cowen said there was nothing to disbar a taoiseach or government of the day from making new arrangements or ensuring that the names of departments indicated their activities.

Mr Gilmore pressed him to say when the transfer of functions order would be introduced, adding that there seemed to be confusion as to who was the minister and what were the departments.

Mr Cowen said the transfer of functions orders would be drawn up in due course, confirmed at Cabinet and put before the Oireachtas or laid in the library or wherever they were brought.

In the meantime, he added, he wanted to see the practical arrangements put in place. The Government wanted to see a better service provided in training and skills, where Fás would liaise with what was being done in education.

“In the meantime, corporate accountability remains with the existing departments until the new arrangements are put in place.”