Arthur Spring
Question:68. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a list of all public consultations his Department has carried out since the start of 2012. [50752/12]
View answerThursday, 15 November 2012
Questions (68)
Written answers
My Department has undertaken one formal public consultation this year. This consultation was held between February and April and formed part of the Review of the White Paper on Irish Aid. The consultation was overseen by the independent Irish Aid Expert Advisory Group and involved over 1,000 people in Ireland and in our partner countries, including members of civil society, NGOs, the private sector, and representatives the new communities living in Ireland. Over 165 written submissions were received. The exercise also involved consultation across Government Departments and in the Houses of the Oireachtas, including through the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs. Based on this public consultation, my Department is currently developing a new policy on global development which will guide the Government’s efforts in the coming years.
Apart from formal public consultations as described above, there are continual informal consultations and contacts between the Department and NGOs and other civil society representatives.