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Open Government Partnership

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 February 2014

Wednesday, 26 February 2014

Questions (13)

Robert Dowds

Question:

13. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the preparations for Ireland’s hosting of a European-level Open Government Partnership conference in 2014; the date and venue of the said conference; the purpose and benefits set to accrue from hosting this conference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9427/14]

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Written answers

Ireland will host a European-level Open Government Partnership (OGP) conference in Dublin Castle on 8th and 9th May.

The conference will be a 2 day event with up to 300 participants expected to attend. Ministers, Government officials from European countries participating in the OGP, representatives of civil society and non-governmental organisations, representatives of international and regional organisations, the business community, and the academic community will be invited to attend. Officials and civil society representatives from European countries not yet participating in the OGP will also be encouraged to attend. The event will be open to the media.

The Government's decision to seek membership of the OGP was based on the assessment that the aims of the OGP strongly reinforced and complemented the Government's commitment to wide-ranging political reform reflected in the Programme for Government.  The continuing development of an open, transparent, accountable and ethical system of public administration consistent with the goals and objectives of the OGP is clearly integral to the ongoing process of rebuilding trust in government and in public institutions and underpinning national recovery. 

Ireland's membership of the OGP is expected to reap significant economic and social benefits.  Hosting this conference will give added impetus to the work being done in developing an OGP National Action Plan to progress Ireland's OGP membership. It will provide an opportunity to demonstrate Ireland's commitment to Open Government, to raise visibility of the reforms currently being advanced, and to improve our reputation internationally as a result.  It will allow the sharing of knowledge of OGP initiatives that worked well, lessons learned and best practice between OGP participating countries and civil society.  Participants will share experiences from their respective countries and provide real examples of how, for example, openness can improve public services, drive economic growth and restore public faith in government.  The conference will also, of course, benefit the local economy in terms of business for hotels, catering and tourism potential. 

A Planning Committee has been set up comprising officials from my Department, Local Government and civil society representatives and preparations for the conference are well underway.

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