Written Answers. - Departmental Strategy Groups.
Question:
105
Mr. Carey
asked the
Taoiseach
the number of strategy groups in his Department; the purpose of these groups; the composition of these groups; the organisation which they represent; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11888/98]
There are 18 groups which can be broadly defined as strategy groups under the Department of the Taoiseach. These groups fall under the following categories: employment and unemployment; SMI (strategic management initiative); financial services; and information society commission. The detailed information requested by the Deputy in respect of each of these groups is as follows:
Employment and Unemployment (1)
Interdepartmental Strategy Group on Employment and Unemployment
The Interdepartmental Strategy Group on Employment and Unemployment (SGEU) was established in October 1995 to facilitate co-operation between the relevant Departments and to contribute to the development of policy in that regard, especially with regard to long-term unemployment. Such policies are for development in consultation with the social partners, particularly under the Partnership 2000 monitoring arrangements.
Membership
Dermot McCarty, Department of the Taoiseach (Chair)
Donagh Morgan, Department of the Taoiseach
Mary Butler, Department of the Taoiseach
Gerry Cribben, Department of the Taoiseach
David Feeney, Department of the Taoiseach
Cyril Havelin, Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs
John Hynes, Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs
Margaret Kelly, Department of Education and Science
Anne McManus, Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs
Rody Molloy, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Joe Mooney, Department of Finance
Tom Mulherin, Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs
Mary Nash, Department of Finance
Pat Nolan, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Colm O'Neill, Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs
Séamus Ó Moráin, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Eoin Ó Seaghda, Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs
Gerry Pike, FÁS
Phil Ryan, Department of Finance
Gerry Hickey, Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Sylda Langford, Department Justice, Equality and Law Reform
John Bohan, Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs
Colm Breslin, Department of Finance
Patricia Coleman, Department of Finance
Terry Corcoran, FÁS
Patricia Curtin, FÁS
Frank Doheny, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Pat Dowling, Department of Education and Science
David Doyle, Department of Finance
Adrian Finneran, Department of Finance
Paul Fleming, Department of Finance
Brian Flynn, Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs
Phil Furlong, Department of Finance
Sean Halpin, Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs
Paul Haran, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Strategic Management Initiative (9)
(1)Strategic Management Initiative Heads of Office Implementation Group
The implementation of the recommendations for change set out in theDelivering Better Government report published in May 1996 is overseen by the Strategic Management Initiative Heads of Office Implementation Group. The implementation group submits regular reports to Government concerning progress in developing and implementing the change programme through the SMI co-ordinating group which is composed of representatives of the Civil Service and other interested parties.
Terms of reference:
To drive the SMI change process foward within the Civil Service and to report on progress to Government every three months.
Membership:
Paul Haran, Secretary General, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Margaret Hayes, Secretary General, Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation
John Hurley, Secretary General, Public Service Management
John Loughrey, Secretary General, Department of Public Enterprise
Paddy Mullarkey, Secretary General, Department of Finance
Jerry O'Dwyer, Secretary General, Department of Health
Eddie Sullivan, Secretary General, Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs
Paddy Teahon(Chair) , Secretary General, Department of the Taoiseach
Catherine Treacy, Registrar, Land Registry
Following the publication ofDelivering Better Government a small number of working groups were established under the aegis of the co-ordinating group to develop specific aspects of the change programme. These groups are the: Strategic Management Initiative Human Resources Management Working Group; Strategic Management Initiative Financial Management Working Group; Strategic Management Initiative Quality Customer Service Working Group; Strategic Management Initiative Information Technology Working Group; Strategic Management Initiative Openness and Transparency Working Group and Strategic Management Initiative Steering Group on Performance Management.
A steering group was established in 1996 to review the existing operations of the Navy and Air Corps and to make recommendations to ensure the optimum use of resources in order to fulfil the roles set by Government. The terms of reference of this group were extended in September, 1997. The group is currently finalising its work and is expected to report to Government shortly.
The terms of reference and membership of these groups are listed below.
(2)SMI Co-ordinating Group:
Terms of reference:
(i) To oversee the implementation of the Government's programme for change in the Civil Service;
(ii) To validate reviews of particular programmes as requested by Government;
(iii) To report regularly to Government on progress.
Membership:
Paddy Teahon(Chair), Secretary General, Department of the Taoiseach
A.D. Barry,Chairman, CRH
John Dunne, Director General, IBEC
Carmel Foley, Chief Executive, Employment Equality Agency
Margaret Hayes, Secretary General, Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation
John Hurley, Secretary General (PSMD, Department of Finance
Dr. Caroline Hussey, UCD
Dr. Noreen Kearney, Lecturer in Social Studies, TCD
John Loughrey, Secretary General, Department of Public Enterprise
Eddie Sullivan, Secretary General, Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs
Mamo McDonald, former President Irish Countrywomen's Association
Paddy Keating, National Secretary General, Civil Service Division Irish Municipal Public and Civil Trade Union
Paddy Mullarkey, Secretary General, Department of Finance
Catríona Murphy, Managing Director, AIB
Dan Murphy, Secretary General, Public Service Executive Union
Professor John Murray, TCD
Blair Horan, Secretary General, Civil and Public Service Union
Julie O'Neill, Assistant Secretary, Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation
Sean O'Riordáin, General Secretary, Association of Higher Civil Servants
Catherine Treacy, Registrar, Land Registry
(3) SMI Quality Customer Service Working Group
Terms of Reference:
(a) To develop a quality service framework for the Civil Service, based on the principles set out inDelivering Better Government and
(b) To oversee and facilitate the adoption and implementation of a quality service improvement programme, within this framework, by each Department and Office.
Membership:
Cathal Mac Domhnaill, Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners (Chair)
Sean Aylward, Assistant Secretary, Dept. Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Kevin Cullen, Principal Officer, Department of the Environment
Eric Embleton, Assistant Secretary, Department of Finance
Maura Waters, Principal Officer, Department of Agriculture and Food
John Lawton, Counsellor, Department of Foreign Affairs
Peter Baldwin, Principal Officer, Dept. Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Brian Murphy, Chairman, Commissioners of Public Works
James Rogers, Commissioner of Valuation, Valuation Office
Bairbre Nic Aonghusa, Asst. Principal Officer, Dept. Health and Children
Frances Stephenson
Eddie Sullivan, Secretary General, Dept. Social, Community and Family Affairs
John Browne, Principal Officer, Department of Public Enterprise
John McMahon, Office of Public Works
Frank O'Donnell, Principal Officer, SMI Team, Department of the Taoiseach
Andrew Logue Disability Federation
Caroline Gill, Consumers Association
Aine Mizzoni, Operations Director, Sedgwick Dineen International Ltd.
Ciara Murray, Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed
Senator Feargal Quinn.
(4) SMI Human Resource Management Working Group
Terms of Reference:
To develop and oversee implementation of the framework proposals of human resource management set out inDelivering Better Government.
Membership:
John Hurley, Secretary General (PSMD) Department of Finance (Chair)
Joe Boyle, Civil Service Commission
Anna Doughan, Principal Officer, Dept. Education and Science,
Josephine Feehily, Assistant Secretary, Revenue Commissioners
Seamus Feely, Assistant Secretary, Revenue Commissioners
John Gillespie, Assistant Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Food
Michael Kelly, Assistant Secretary, Department of Health and Children
Alice O'Flynn, Principal Officer, Dept. Social, Community and Family Affairs
Tom Power, Assistant Principal, Department of Health and Children
Paddy Teahon, Secretary General, Department of the Taoiseach
Mary Whelan, Assistant Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs
Pat Casey, Assistant Principal, SMI Team, Department of the Taoiseach
Kevin Heffernan, former chairman of the Labour Court
Michael McLoone, Donegal County Manager
Maura McGrath, Personnel Manager, Bank of Ireland
(5) SMI Financial Management Working Group
Terms of Reference:
To develop and implement the framework proposals set out inDelivering Better Government in relation to improved financial management including multi-annual budgeting, delegation of financial authority, administrative budgets and accrual accounting.
Membership:
Paddy Mullarkey, Secretary General, Department of Finance (Chair)
Marian Byrne, Principal Officer, Department of Agriculture and Food
Margaret Hennessy, Assistant Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs
John Loughrey, Secretary General, Department of Public Enterprise
Joe Meade, Secretary/Director of Audit, Office Comptroller and Auditor General
Dermot McCarthy, Assistant Secretary, Department of the Taoiseach
Bridget McManus, Principal Officer, Dept. Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands
Jerry O'Dwyer, Secretary General, Department of Health and Children
Niamh O'Donoghue, Principal Officer, Civil Service Commission
Sara White, Assistant Secretary, Department of the Marine and Natural Resources
Finance Official to attend depending on issue being dealt with Pat Casey, Assistant Principal, SMI Team, Department of the Taoiseach
Mary Broughan, ex-Chair, Irish Pensions Board
Sean Dorgan, Chief Executive, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ireland
Dermot Hegarty, Griffith College (working with Dept. Public Enterprise on Accruals Accounting)
Noreen Hynes, former President, Leinster Society of Chartered Accountants.
(6) SMI Working Group on Open and Transparent Service Delivery
Terms of Reference:
— To co-ordinate and guide the legal, parliamentary and administrative initiatives under way to achieve openness and transparency in the conduct of public business, consistent with the public interest;
— To identify and make recommendations on the administrative changes necessary to ensure that legislative measures currently in train (e.g. FOI, P&C, Ombudsman), are promply adopted by Departments and public bodies.
Membership:
Frank Murray, Secretary General to the Government (Chair)
Dr Ruth Barrington, Director, Department of Health and Children
Tim Dalton, Secretary General, Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Vera Dervan, Principal Officer, Dept. Social, Community and Family Affairs
Anne Doyle, Assistant Principal, Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Colm Gallagher, Assistant Secretary, Department of Finance
Jim Hamilton, Attorney General's Office
Tadgh ó hÉalaithe, Secretary Gen., Dept. Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands
Julie O'Neill, Assistant Secretary, Department of Tourism, Recreation and Sport
John Neary, Principal Officer, Department of Foreign Affairs
Pat Whelan, Director of the Ombudsman's Office
Frank O'Donnell, Principal Officer, SMI Team, Department of the Taoiseach
Ellen Hazelcorn, Director of Applied Arts, Dublin Institute of Technology
Leonie Lunny, Director, NSSB
Olivia O'Leary, Journalist
Pat Montague, Montague Communications
(7) SMI Information Technology Working Group
Terms of Reference:
To review the current and potential uses of information technology (IT) in the Civil Service and to make recommendations for its more effective application so as to ensure that the use of IT is driven by business needs and priorities in line with SMI strategy statements; maximise the benefits to be achieved from the use of IT to deliver services, manage resources, including information, and streamline work processes and reporting arrangements; ensure that in applying IT its potential to enable needed changes to be effected in work processes, reporting arrangements and organisational structures is fully exploited; and review the implications and benefits of the emerging "Information Society" for the Civil Service and to make recommendations on the role of the Civil Service and the actions required in light of that role.
Membership:
David O'Callaghan, Secretary General, Defence (Chair)
Noel Doyle, Assistant Principal (1), Revenue Commissioners
Eric Embleton, Assistant Secretary, Dept. of Finance
Martin Higgins, Principal Officer, Department of Health and Children
Eileen Kehoe, Principal Officer, Office of the Attorney General
Ann McGuinness, Principal Officer, Dept. Environment and Local Government
Donal Murphy, Director General, CSO
Aidan O'Driscoll, Principal Officer, Department of Agriculture and Food
Pat O'Grady, Principal Officer, Civil Service Commission
Dermot Quigley, Chairman Elect, Revenue Commissioners
Oliver Ryan, Director, Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs
Catherine Treacy, Registrar, Land Registry
Pat Casey, Assistant Principal, SMI Team, Department of the Taoiseach
Una O'Brien, National Instruments
Loretta Brannigan, Bank of Ireland
Billy Glennon, Vision Computing
Frank Murphy, Superquinn
(8) Strategic Management Initiative Steering Group on Performance Management
Mr. Michael Kelly, Dept. Justice, Equality and Law Reform(Chairman)
Mr. Joe Boyle, Civil Service Commission
Mr. Pat Casey, Department of the Taoiseach
Ms Anna Doughan, Department of Education and Science
Ms Mary Doyle, Department of the Taoiseach
Mr. Eric Embleton, Department of Finance
Ms Mary Whelan, Department of Foreign Affairs
Ms Josephine Feehily, Revenue Commissioners
Ms Maura McGrath, Bank of Ireland
Mr. Michael McLoone, Donegal County Council
(9) Steering Group on the Review of the Air Corps and Naval Service:
Terms of Reference:
In the light of the Government decisions of 3 July 1995 and 5 March 1996 to review the existing operations of the Navy and Air Corps and to make recommendations to ensure the optimum use of resources in order to fulfil the roles set by Government.
These were extended in September 1997 to include the following:
(a) To determine, through consultation with the various interests involved including the Department of Finance, the current and the likely medium/longer-term extent of the State's requirements for sea and/or air support in the areas of:
(i) fishery protection;
(ii) search and rescue;
(iii) drug interdiction;
(iv) other aid to the civil power; and
(v) other aid to the civil community.
To the extent possible, to quantify such requirements by reference to historic tasking levels and/or, as appropriate, known or likely future needs and in so doing to develop minimum and maximum parameters for such requirements.
(b) To recommend the most appropriate model for the provision of such services, taking account of models for the provision of such services in comparable jurisdictions/ environments, with particular emphasis on the key taskings of fishery protection, search and rescue and drug interdiction, for the purpose of developing a framework for decision-making on the State's current sea and air support requirements which will enable the following options to be meaningfully considered:
(i) to have all the State's future sea and air support requirements discharged on a multitasked, multicapability basis by the Naval Service and the Air Corps, having particular regard to the implications for future staffing requirements and equipment purchase/replacement;
(ii) to contract some of the State's sea and air support requirements from the private sector and/or to resource other State agencies to discharge some of the taskings involved. The taskings to be considered under this option would be taskings in excess of those currently discharged by the Naval Service and the Air Corps with current levels of manpower and equipment (including decisions already taken);
(iii) to have any additional sea and air requirements over the above current tasking and capability levels provided by the Naval Service and the Air Corps on a dedicated basis, i.e. on the basis that the additional manpower and/or equipment assets provided will be used by the Naval Service and/or the Air Corps exclusively for the specific purposes provided; and
(iv) whether the structure and equipment of the Naval Service and Air Corps in particular are appropriate to the taskings that the services currently carry out and if so whether these structures and types of equipment should be expanded/replicated in the event of additional tasks being imposed on either service.
(c) In developing the above framework for decision-making, to construct a matrix which will allow all relevant factors to be taken into account, including the likely extent of future requirements by tasking, the implications for the State of the dedicated and multicapability approaches, the factors impacting on cost and value for money, the trade-offs between costs and different modes of operation and the benefits of different approaches. The development of the matrix should also indicate the factors involved in and advice on how to treat the State's requirements for a contingent defence capability at sea and in the air as part of the total decision-making process.
(d) To carry out the foregoing work in a manner which will enable the output to be incorporated into a consolidated report which also include the outcome of the current review of the Naval Service and Air Corps.
Membership:
Mr. Paddy Teahon, Secretary General, Department of the Taoiseach (Chair)
Lt. Gen. Gerard McMahon, Army Chief of Staff
Comod. John Kavanagh, F.O.C. Naval Service
Brig. Gen. Patrick Cranfield, G.O.C. Air Corps
Maj. Gen. P. F. Nowlan, Quartermaster-General
Maj. Gen. Bill Dwyer, Adjutant General
Mr. David O'Callaghan, Secretary General, Department of Defence
Mr. Michael Howard, Assistant Secretary, Department of Defence
Mr. Michael O'Donoghue, Departmet of Defence
Mr. Tom Carroll, Secretary General, Dept. Marine and Natural Resources
Mr. Frank Dunne, Assistant Secretary, Dept. Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Mr. Ciaran Connolly, Director of Public Expenditure Division, Dept. Finance
Ms Mary Doyle, Principal Officer, Department of the Taoiseach
Financial Services (1)
The IFSC Clearing House Group
The Clearing House Group facilitates high level communication between different Government Departments and Agencies and prominent members of Industry on matters concerning the development of policy in relation to the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC). The group identifies and considers issues of major concern to the long-term development of the centre, including the strategic development of new business areas, the progress of relevant legislation and the physical development of the Docks Area. Membership of the Group is restricted to senior public and private sector representatives.Membership:
Paddy Teahon, Department of the Taoiseach (Chair)
Michael Buckley, Allied Irish Banks
Ron Bolger, KPMG
Peter Coyne, Dublin Docklands Development Authority
Garrett Murphy, Central Bank of Ireland
Torlach Denihan, FSIA
David Doyle, Department of Finance
Brian Goggin, Bank of Ireland
Paul Haran, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Kurt Hochheuser, Commerzbank
Kieran McGowan, IDA Ireland
Sam Mollinaro, Bear Stearns
Donagh Morgan, Department of the Taoiseach
Frank Mullen, Office of the Revenue Commissioners
John Shaw, Department of the Taoiseach (Secretary to Group)
John Sievwright, Merrill Lynch
Michael Tutty, Department of Finance
Information Society Commission (7)
(1) The Information Society Commission was established by the Taoiseach in May 1997 to oversee the strategy for the creation of an information society in Ireland and to address key issues in the following areas: awareness; infrastructure; learning; enterprise; government. To address these key areas the commission has established six advisory groups. The function of these groups and membership are outlined below.
Membership of Information Society Commission:
Ms Vivienne Jupp, Andersen Consulting (Chair)
Ms Selina Bonnie, Centre for Independent Living
Ms Paula Carey, ICTU.
Mr. Donal Connell, 3 COM
Mr. Sean Corkery, AST Ireland Ltd.
Dr. Eamonn G. Hall, Telecom Éireann
Mr. Paul Kavanagh, Stream International
Mr. Dermot McCarthy, Department of the Taoiseach.
Mr. Eugene Murray, RTE.
Mr Seamus O'Canainn, Blackrock Education Centre.
(2) Awareness Advisory Group
The main purpose of the awareness group involves agreeing and launching a widespread public awareness campaign, in conjunction with other organisations, highlighting the benefits that the information society if properly grasped will bring to people's everyday life.
Membership
Chair — Vacant
Selina Bonnie, Centre for Independent Living
John Fanning, McConnells Advertising
Caroline Gill, Consumers Association of Ireland
Vivienne Jupp, Anderson Consulting
Dermot McCarthy, Department of the Taoiseach
John McGrath, National Youth Council of Ireland
Denis Molumby, IDA Ireland
Adrian Moynes, RTE
(3) Infrastructure Advisory Group
The infrastructure advisory group will consider and make recommendations on any matters which it considers as necessary to work towards ensuring that an appropriate communications infrastructure is in place to meet the ever increasing technological requirements of both enterprise and the public.
Membership:
Eugene Murray, RTE (Chair)
Peter Branagan, RTE
John Creaney, Revenue Commissioners
Martin Dennany, Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands
Paul Kavanagh, Stream International
Ray Kavanagh, CMOD
Steve Keaveney, Cable Communications Association of Ireland
Tommy McCabe, IBEC
Larry Murtagh, NEC Semi-conductors
Sinead O'Marcaigh, Esat Telecom
John Sweeney, Telecom Éireann
Brendan Tuohy, Department of Public Enterprise
(4) Learning Advisory Group
The learning advisory group will recommend and promote learning initiatives (in consultation with the Awareness Advisory Group) to ensure that all citizens are provided with learning that is relevant for the Information Society by addressing curriculum, teacher training and availability of technology.
Membership
Donal Connell, 3 Com (Chair)
Kathi Dillon, National Parents Council — Primary
Dennis Jennings, UCD
Frank Kelly, Department of Education and Science
Terry Landers, Forfás
Brendan Murphy, FAS
Seamus O'Canainn, Blackrock Education Centre
Declan Purcell, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
John Pearse, ICL
(5) Enterprise Advisory Group
The Enterprise Advisory Group will make recommendations on areas that will maximise the opportunities for the information society in Ireland to encourage existing industries to adopt information and communication technologies, to foster the establishment of new enterprises in the information industries and to create significant employment opportunities.
Membership
Sean Corkery, AST Computers (Chair)
Colm Breslin, Department of Finance
Paula Carey, ICTU
Jennifer Condon, Forbairt
Michael Cunniffe, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
John Hickey, AIB
Katherine Lucey, IBEC
Chris O'Malley, DCU
Lisa Temple-Ashmore, Microsoft Ireland
(6) Government — Legal Issues Advisory Group
The legal issues group will consider and make recommendations on the proper legal framework that will be essential to facilitate the development of the information society in Ireland.
Membership:
Eamonn Hall, Telecom Éireann (Chair)
Peter Baldwin, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Bob Clark, UCD
Martin Dennany, Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands
Ken Hannigan, National Archives
John Haskins, Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Don McAleese, Matheson Ormsby and Prentice
Bill Riley, INTEL
Shane Smyth, FR Kelly
Fintan Towey, Department of Public Enterprise
(7) Government — Government Services and Social Inclusion Advisory Group
This group will consider the main actions required to be taken by Government in delivering its services through information and communications technologies. The issue of social inclusion in the information society is also a key concern for this advisory group.
Membership
Dermot McCarthy, Department of the Taoiseach (Chair)
Fiona Bauer, Community and Social Sector
Pat Cregg, Garda Síochána
Derek Cunningham, Irish Farmers' Association
Emer Dolphin, Aontas
Jim Duffy, CMOD
Gerry Ellis, Forum for people with disabilities
James Griffin, Revenue Commissioners
Margaret O'Connor, Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Michael Manley, Department of the Environment and Local Government
Orla O'Connor, Congress Centres for the Unemployed
Oliver Ryan, Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs
Maura Waters, Department of Agriculture and Food.
