Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2010
525 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Finance if the terms of reference of the independent review of the Department of Finance will include investigating and assessing the performances, decisions and impacts of the three Ministers of Finance during the ten years to be reviewed. [33990/10]
View answerThe Terms of Reference of the Independent Review of the Department of Finance, which are set out below, indicate that the focus of the Review will be an evaluation of the systems, structures and processes of the Department of Finance.
The Terms of Reference are as follows: "The Independent Review Group will undertake a comprehensive evaluation of the systems, structures and processes of the Department of Finance relating to those elements of budgetary, economic, financial and public service management that are relevant to its role. In this regard the review will assess the Department's:
Performance in the past 10 years,
Advice (appropriateness and quality), forecasts, risk analysis (including of non-consensual opinion) and communications strategy, and,
Development and management of responses to the current crisis.
This assessment should have regard to the policy, legal and institutional framework within which the Department worked during this period.
The Group will, based on the conclusions and lessons drawn from this assessment, make recommendations for the future development, structure and resourcing of the Department. In making its recommendations the Group will have regard to best practice regarding the organisational structures, skills, training, staff mix and levels required by a modern Finance Ministry in order that it can best fulfil its role in relation to (i) economic and financial management; (ii) policy analysis, development, advice and implementation; and, (iii) communication, transparency and accountability. The Group will provide its full report and recommendations within three months."
The Reviewers will, as would be expected, be free to consider what matters they regard as relevant to their Terms of Reference.
