asked the Minister for the Public Service if he will place greater emphasis on citizen participation in policy formation at all levels.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Policy Formation.
105.
As the Taoiseach said on the day the Government came into office:
This Government were founded in a spirit of co-operation and I believe that that spirit of co-operation will influence their work and guide their activities. We will seek the co-operation of the groups of citizens in the community who have come together to further a particular improvement in dealing with their social ills. We will seek in addition the co-operation of the trade unions and the employers in order to bring greater harmony to our industrial relations. We will also co-operate with farmers' groups and vocational interests with a view to increasing living standards for all our people, and with regional groups who are rightly concerned to diminish regional inequalities which exist.
The Government are in favour of extending citizen participation in policy formation at all levels and a few examples of action in this area may help to indicate progress. The recent White Paper "A National Partnership" is a typical example of the Government's plans to evoke public co-operation; the White Paper on Capital Taxation, which I published as Minister for Finance in February last was another illustration of the Government's desire to seek a positive contribution from the public at the prelegislation stage. The process of consultation was extended on the Government's initiative in the recent meetings with unions, employers and farmers and it has been institutionalised by our setting up of such bodies as the National Economic and Social Council and the Public Service Advisory Council. In consumer affairs, the recent establishment of the Post Office Users' Council provides a headline. At the level of grass roots participation, the current developments in regard to committees of school management are also indicative of concern with citizen participation.
In the course of ordinary day-to-day contacts and correspondence and in receiving deputations, Ministers regularly obtain suggestions on policy matters from citizens. Due consideration, of course, is given to all such representations and, where appropriate, points raised are taken into account when policy is being formulated and arranged.
Is the Minister aware that the Taoiseach said many things in his first couple of days in office but that any time the Minister for Finance used the word "co-operation" he never used the word "consultation"?
No.
In other words, is the Minister for Finance completely cutting out any idea of consultation?
No.