The strategic priorities for my Department for the coming years are set out in the Department's Statement of Strategy 2003-2005 which was published in April of this year. These are: to support sustainable growth and employment creation, social progress and improved living standards through the formulation of appropriate economic and budgetary policies; to maximise delivery of the Government's economic and social objectives through the development and management of effective taxation and public expenditure policies; to develop policies that continue to promote Ireland's interests at EU and international level and which support the social and economic progress of the EU; to promote the effective regulation of the financial services sector; to promote and implement policies in relation to incomes, with particular reference to the public service, which take account of the financial position of the Exchequer and which support competitiveness and the delivery of better public services; to support and improve public service management; and to provide an efficient, high quality service to our customers in line with the standards and targets set out in our customer service action plan.
These strategic priorities have regard to all aspects of the Department's activities, including the preparation of the annual publication, Estimates for Public Services.