I assume the Deputy is referring to the Report of the Independent Review Group chaired by Mr Kevin Toland. Following the publication of the Groups report in relation to the performance, management and administration of my Department, a Programme for Change to address the Group's recommendations is continuing. The objective of this Programme is to assist the Department to migrate to a new culture, leadership, management and operating model which delivers a high performing organisation and provides strategic oversight and added value to its agencies.
Since my reply of 18 November 2014, a number of additional recommendations/initiatives have been advanced including the following:
- a Corporate Secretariat Office has been established and a Head of Communications has been appointed - these will address many of the internal process issues identified as well as strengthening internal and external communications
- sanction has been received for a number of additional posts to facilitate the implementation of the Programme for Change throughout the Department. This includes a new Deputy Secretary post and this post was advertised by the Public Appointments Service in February 2015
- the membership of the Department's Management Advisory Committee has now been extended to include the Director of the Probation Service and two Principal Officers (PO) who represent the wider PO group. New formalised working procedures, including for meetings with the Minister, introduced following the Review, are supporting the overall governance of the Department
- a Principal Officer Forum has been established, one of the aims of which is to engage POs in identifying how they can contribute to improving the coherence and efficiency of the Department's overall performance
- following a successful meeting with Heads of Agencies in Farmleigh on 13 November, 2014, proposals for more structured engagement with agencies are being implemented
- formal Performance Agreements have been signed off with a number of agencies and this process is continuing
- a new Strategy Statement for my Department covering the period 2015-2017 will be published shortly. This is guided principally by the Review Group's recommendations - this Strategy will be the anchor on which the planning processes recommended in the Review will be grounded
- an annual staff survey questionnaire has been developed and the first survey will be conducted shortly. This will (a) baseline current attitudes and opinions (b) identify areas that require a focused approach to change with appropriate interventions and (c) enable measurement of the success of those interventions into the future
- the comprehensive reform programme in respect of policing, which includes the establishment of an independent Policing Authority, is being implemented, overseen by the Cabinet Committee on Justice Reform
- far-reaching legislative reforms are being prioritised and developed across a whole range of public policy issues as part of the Government's legislative programme.
While a permanent appointment to the post of Secretary General has yet to be made, Mr Noel Waters, Director General of INIS, continues as Acting Secretary General and he and the senior management team are working closely with me, the Department staff and all stakeholders to implement the recommendations of the Review.
