Vol. 417 No. 5
3 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Taoiseach if, in regard to his speech at the Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis, in which he indicated his support for a citizens' charter, he will elaborate on the proposal; if any work has yet been done on the drafting of such a charter; if it would be backed up by legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The concept of a citizens' charter, which would articulate and spell out the rights of citizens vis-á-vis the providers of public services, is a good one. The Minister for Health has already proposed a patient's charter. I propose to ask the Institute of Public Administration to examine the concept in conjunction with various Departments, State agencies and utilities, with the Ombudsman and Director of Consumer Affairs and Fair Trade to see whether it would be possible to introduce a charter, or charters, here that would be suited to our conditions.
They will be fairly busy after the passage of the Social Welfare Bill.
Is it intended that this charter, or charters, will have legislative backing? Would the Taoiseach say whether that will be the case and, if so, under what terms? Could he briefly outline what precisely the charter, or charters, would cover? For example, will they allocate new rights to citizens or are they simply intended to be a statement of rights already obtaining? What precisely is involved?
All aspects of existing rights will be considered in addition to any proposals in relation to new rights. The Institute of Public Administration are already examining the various aspects and will be in touch with various organisations, public utilities and so on.
Would the Taoiseach agree that any citizens' charter should contain a statutory right for a citizen to discuss private business with a public authority, in private, and not either at a hatch or in a public area, in order to show respect for citizens' rights?
I am certain that will be one aspect that will be considered within the overall question of a citizens' charter.
