Vol. 493 No. 3
83 Mr. Allen asked the Taoiseach the working groups, reports, studies and consultancies commissioned by his Department since taking office; the estimated cost of each, where applicable; the date the report of each was received or is scheduled to be received; and whether each has or will be published. [15757/98]
1. The All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution which was reconstituted in October, 1997, is serviced by the Institute of Public Administration. The Committee hope to publish a report on the Institutions of the State in November, 1998, which will cover the Presidency, Dáil, Seanad, Attorney General, Government, courts, international relations, and the conduct of referenda. Specific consideration is also being given to the ways in which people living in Northern Ireland might play a more active part in national political life, to the extent that they so desire and in a spirit consistent with the principles underlying the peace settlement.
The Committee has been asked to examine how human rights might be further protected and strengthened in this jurisdiction in the context of the Multi-Party Agreement. The Committee will examine this topic following the publication of the report on the Institutions of the State and upon receipt of detailed proposals from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The Estimate for the Committee for 1998 in £240,000.
2. The Dublin Taxi Forum was established last December at the Taoiseach's suggestion. The forum is chaired by John Mahony, Chairman of the Dublin Transportation Office, and the secretariat is provided by Dublin Corporation. No direct costs arise for the Department of the Taoiseach.
3. The Government has agreed to the establishment of a Government Millennium Steering Group which will be chaired by the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Séamus Brennan). To date no costs have arisen from this decision.
4. The High-Level Group on Trade Union Recognition was established in August 1997. It is envisaged that the group will compile an agreed report which will be subsequently published at a date yet to be determined. No costs arise from the establishment of this group and the issue of the costs involved in the future publication of its report will be determined closer to the publication date.
5. The Interdepartmental Implementation Group for the Information Society was established in February 1998. The group will publish a report when its programme of work is completed. A publication date will be set nearer the time. No costs arise from the establishment of this group and the issue of the costs involved in the future publication of its report will be determined closer to the publication date.
