Vol. 508 No. 1
194 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has used section 12 of the Public Service Management Act, 1997, which allows for appropriate action to be taken on cross-departmental issues in a structured way; and the areas of work of his Department which are touching on the work of other Departments in respect of which cross-departmental arrangements might be appropriate. [17359/99]
I have not had occasion to invoke section 12 of the Public Service Management Act, 1997.
A number of areas of responsibility of the Department of Foreign Affairs touch on the work of other Departments. Such areas include the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, the conduct of our relations with the European Union, advancing our economic interests abroad, the visa service and many aspects of development co-operation.
To date, it has proved possible to work closely and effectively with the Departments concerned on a practical, concerted basis. I am, however, open to utilising the provisions in section 12 of the Act in consultation with my Government colleagues should those provisions offer a more effective means of advancing any particular issue.
