Bertie Ahern
Ceist:1 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Taoiseach if he has satisfied himself with the progress in preparing all items of legislation contained in the programme A Government of Renewal. [13778/95]
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers - Legislative Programme.
Satisfactory progress is being made in preparing legislation to implement the commitments in A Government of Renewal.
Of the 26 Bills enacted this year, eight included provisions relating to the implementation of nine commitments in the programme. Another five commitments are reflected in Bills before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Bills listed in the Government's legislation programme for this session, which was published on 6 October, will give effect to a further 15 commitments.
The 14 remaining legislative commitments are at various stages of preparation and I am confident that all will be well advanced within the Government's mandate from the present Dáil.
I could question the Taoiseach all day, not only on the legislative commitments in the programme, but on the commissions, groupings, surveys and so on to which it refers. Perhaps one day I will table an omnibus question on the programme.
What progress has been made in preparing legislation to amend the Ministers and Secretaries Act and introduce an administrative procedures Bill and a freedom of information Bill?
Much work has already been done in the Tánaiste's office on the preparation of a Bill on the freedom of information which relates to the wider question of the Ministers and Secretaries Act covered in the subject matter of the second report of the co-ordinating group of secretaries on the strategic management initiative. That report contains a number of recommendations that would affect a definition of the role of Ministers as against secretaries, the establishment of mission statements for various Government offices and procedures for monitoring achievements under the provisions in those mission statements. When the matter reaches the point of full elaboration the Ministers and Secretaries Act will require amendment or replacement by a new public service Bill. However, in examining the strategic management initiative we have not reached a stage where I could say exactly when or in what form the amendments will be introduced, but they will be introduced in due course.
I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. What is the position in regard to the strategic management initiative? I understand that earlier this year the various Departments put together their plans and proposals on a development initiative to be co-ordinated by the Taoiseach. What is the present position regarding the initiative?
Question No. 3 in the Deputy's name refers to that matter and I will give him as much detail as possible when we come to that question.
The strategic management initiative proposed amending the Ministers and Secretaries Act. Is the Taoiseach committed to amending that Act in the lifetime of the Government?
Yes. I regard the implementation of the proposals in the strategic management initiative as one of my most important functions as Taoiseach. If we can implement the changes implicit in the strategic management initiative and make strategic management part of the working culture of the public service rather than something imposed from outside, as is sometimes the case with various administrative initiatives, we will have made a significant achievement. That is something to which I am committed, as was my predecessor.
What is the position in regard to legislation on a third banking force? Is it being prepared or has a decision been made in that regard? When is it likely to come before the House.
A decision has not been made on the shape of proposals in that regard. Therefore, the question of the preparation of such legislation has not arisen.