Nora Owen
Ceist:4 Mrs. Owen asked the Taoiseach if the post of executive chairperson of the National Centre for Partnership and Performance has been filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1466/01]
Ceisteanna – Questions. - National Centre for Partnership and Performance.
The process of filling the post of executive chairperson of the NCPP is currently under way. The shortlisting process and interviews were undertaken by the Office of the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commissioners on 24 January and 1 February last and it is expected that an appointment will be made shortly.
Why has it taken so long to make this appointment? Is the Taoiseach not concerned, given the serious labour unrest, including an Aer Lingus strike threatened tomorrow and other industrial actions taken in the last year, that the most important matter of economic policy for the country is to ensure the viability of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness? Why has it has taken so long to fill this post?
As Deputy Owen said, this is an important post. There were discussions between the Government, IBEC and ICTU about how this post should operate and its relationship with NESC and NESF. There is a parliamentary question to be dealt with later concerning legislation related to this issue which is due this year.
The discussions about how this would work and the report on the NCPP were completed from Partnership 2000 and that was also taken into account in framing the type of post this should be. There was not a delay as such given that this was put down as a concept during the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, but how the social partners would make the NCPP operate had to be worked out. The work of this organisation will be vitally important, as it will move on the excellent work of its forerunner, the National Centre for Partnership. There is also another position to be filled, but this position should be filled in the next few weeks.
Can the Taoiseach confirm that this centre will be embraced by the legislation that will put the NESC and NESF on a statutory basis? That legislation has been promised for some time. What is the delay? In replying to a parliamentary question on 23 May 2000 the Taoiseach said he expected it to be published this year but the legislation is not on the list of published legislation which the Minister of State, Deputy Brennan, circulated. I am aware of the intense negotiations taking place about this and of the uncertainty even about the location of the centre. What is the problem and why has it taken the Government more than three years to do a fairly straightforward and simple exercise? Are we back to the substance of the first question regarding the legislative chaos in the Taoiseach's Department?
The legislation concerning the NESC and NESF was ready at the time of the negotiations, in autumn 1999. The social partners and the Government stated that we should also include the NCPP in the legislation and there were discussions last year about the staffing of the NCPP, its work, role and core structures. When that was completed it was returned to the chief parliamentary counsel. At Christmas counsel submitted a Bill which included the NCPP with the two other organisations. We should soon be ready to proceed with the legislation.
If such progress has been made on what is a minor matter in terms of legislative design, why is it not included in the list circulated by the Chief Whip?
Certainly, it is legislation that can be brought forward. Nothing has been lost by a delay. I could have proceeded with legislation on the NESF and the NESC last summer or autumn but it was better not to do so without the NCPP because they all compose the new Office for Economic and Social Development. We will bring forward the legislation soon which establishes the office incorporating the NCPP, the NESC and the NESF.
These are powerful bodies to which a considerable amount of decision making has been ceded. In the legislation will there be procedures for Ministers to take questions about their work so that they will be fully accountable?
That will be a matter for the legislation when it comes before the House.
It is something the Taoiseach should take into account.