Trevor Sargent
Ceist:1 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the implementation of his Department’s quality customer service charter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37094/06]
Ceisteanna — Questions.
Departmental Programmes.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Ceist:2 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the implementation of his Department’s quality customer service charter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40253/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.
My Department's quality customer service charter was published in April 2004 and has been distributed to staff and customers. The charter is displayed around the Department in a number of appropriate locations. The charter is also available on the Department's website and a link is attached to all outgoing e-mails.
Under the charter, the Department measures customer service performance and reports on this in its annual report. Methods used include customer feedback, annual surveys, mystery shopping, interviews and focus groups. The 2006 customer survey has been completed and almost 450 external customers were surveyed. Initial analysis shows broadly favourable findings. Overall, the results show consistently high scores in relation to the quality of our services. There was an increase in the awareness of the Department's complaints procedure and an increase in those who had noticed an improvement in the service quality. This improvement is mainly due to a general view that the Department's staff were very efficient and courteous, prompt e-mail response times and the layout of the Department's website.
Gabhaim comhghairdeas leis an Teachta Haughey as a cheapachán mar Aire Stáit. Tá súil agam go n-éireoidh go maith leis agus guím gach rath air. Tá sé tuillte aige — b'fhéidir go bhfuil sé thar am ach sin scéal eile.
Does the quality customer service charter of the Department of the Taoiseach include a mechanism for evaluation? The on-line Irish Statute Book, which we have discussed before, falls short of the quality customer service charter and is not the reliable database it should be. We previously discussed the equivalent in other jurisdictions. Does the Taoiseach still hold the view that decentralisation will not create difficulties for customer service standards?
The question refers specifically to the Department of the Taoiseach.
Indeed it does, and so does decentralisation.
I ask the Deputy to confine himself to a question relating to the Department of the Taoiseach.
The Taoiseach will know, as does the Ceann Comhairle, that decentralisation is relevant to his Department.
This refers specifically to the Department of the Taoiseach.
It is obviously relevant. The Taoiseach must deal with all Departments.
The Taoiseach's Department is not being decentralised.
I am sure the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, is trying to be helpful.
As always.
I do not want this to arise every time questions are taken.
I am sure he realises the Department of the Taoiseach must interface even with his Department. I will ask a question relating to the Department of the Taoiseach before the Ceann Comhairle asks me to sit down. It concerns the quality customer service charter standards for doing business through Irish. I recently spoke to a civil servant who was unable to say who would deal with queries through Irish. Should the Taoiseach not review that aspect of the quality customer service charter? It is one thing to put something down on paper, but will every civil servant be able to say who will deal with queries through Irish? It would be ideal if the person to whom I referred could do so, but the person was from England and had no Irish.
I dealt with the Deputy's first supplementary question in a recent reply. The matter relates to the Office of the Attorney General and is not covered by my Department's charter.
It is covered by the charter.
It is covered by my Department but is not by the departmental charter. It is in the domain of the Attorney General, which also comes under my area of responsibility. I replied on that issue in detail approximately two weeks ago and it is being addressed. It will take us some time to resolve that issue, though hopefully not too long into the new year. The South African company originally responsible for the matter has been contacted. It is regretted that it happened but attempts are being made to resolve it.
My Department is not being decentralised but there are no difficulties in dealing with other Departments. We have our own procedures for dealing with our clients and that is well covered in our charter.
Deputy Sargent raised on a number of occasions the issue of dealing with queries through Irish, including by e-mail. My Department tries to deal with such queries within each section. There is no problem with correspondence via e-mail but difficulties arise when people ring the office. Sections in my Department have endeavoured to each have at least one person who is adequately able to write and speak in Irish. To the best of my knowledge, some sections have a number of such people, but other sections have only one. That is the Department's policy and the management team of the Department has tried to address the matter. There can be some difficulties if the person is out from work, which can happen, but sections try to ensure adequate cover.
As the Deputy will appreciate, quite a number of sections dealing with commemorations and other issues, such as Northern Ireland, have many dealings through Irish, but some sections do not. It is policy that no matter how small the section — a number of my Department's sections are very small — it tries to ensure one person who would be——
Should everyone not know who the person is?
Yes. I will communicate the Deputy's point.
Ar an cheist chéanna, mar gheall ar na scéimeanna i dtaobh na dteangacha oifigiúla atá aontaithe ag an Roinn, deir sé sa chairt do chustaiméirí go gcuirfear na scéimeanna ar bun faoi dháta a n-aontaítear leis an Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta agus go gcuirfear na scéimeanna i bhfeidhm taobh istigh den tréimhse ama aontaithe chun na custaiméirí a shásamh maidir leis na seirbhísí a chuirtear ar fáil trí Ghaeilge. As Béarla, the customer charter of the Department of the Taoiseach states regarding the Irish language:
Official languages scheme in place by date agreed with the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs;
Scheme implemented within agreed framework;
Customer satisfaction levels with services provided through Irish.
The Taoiseach gave some indication of how the different parts are working, but will he report on progress in respect of the delivery of the full scheme, part of which is to have someone on standby at all times? Will this——
Does the Deputy's question relate to the Department of the Taoiseach?
I am referring to that Department's customer service charter.
As I stated in reply to Deputy Sargent, a number of sections in my Department have quite a number of dealings through Irish, but other sections do not. Sections with ongoing dealings through the Irish language have a number of people who can deal with telephone calls or callers to the Department. The Department does not receive many visitors due to the nature of its work, but it receives correspondence, e-mails and telephone calls.
Some of the smaller sections dealing with other issues may not have many people, but the policy is to try to ensure at least one person with ability in Irish per section. Some sections are quite small and may not always have such a person, but larger sections have a number of people who can deal with matters through Irish on a daily basis.
I offer my congratulations to Deputy Haughey on his appointment as a Minister of State and wish him well in the conduct of his Ministry.
Departmental Bodies.
Trevor Sargent
Ceist:3 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach his plans to alter the functions of the communications unit in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37095/06]
Pat Rabbitte
Ceist:4 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the communications unit within his Department; if it is intended that the unit will continue to work during the period following the dissolution of Dáil Éireann in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38684/06]
Enda Kenny
Ceist:5 Mr. Kenny asked the Taoiseach his plans to change the role of the communications unit in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39992/06]
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Ceist:6 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the communications unit within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40254/06]
Joe Higgins
Ceist:7 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the communications unit in his Department. [42770/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 7, inclusive, together.
I have no plans to alter the functions of the communications unit in my Department. The unit will continue to work during the period following the dissolution of the 29th Dáil as it did following the dissolution of the 28th Dáil.
The unit operates on an apolitical basis and only deals with the Government Press Office and the press offices of the various Departments. It has no contact with Government backbenchers or other Deputies. The staff of the unit are subject to the usual conventions that apply to civil servants in respect of political impartiality at all times. I am satisfied they will continue to observe these conventions in the performance of their work.
The unit provides a media information service to Ministers and their Departments. It furnishes news updates and transcripts that ensure Departments are kept informed in a fast and efficient manner of any relevant news developments. In this way, Departments are able to provide a better service to the public.
The communications unit works an 18 hour day based on a flexible rota of three working shifts. The unit is staffed by six established civil servants, five of whom are seconded from other Departments. The work of the unit means Departments have greatly reduced their use of external companies and ensures they no longer duplicate work such as transcripts and tapes.
I like the hypothesis that the communications unit is apolitical. I appreciate the staff are doing the job they are being asked to do so to that extent they are not driven by the same political motivations as a Deputy or party worker but the work carried out by the unit, however, is ostensibly for the Government and, therefore, supports Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrat policy positions. Does the communications unit deal with either party's headquarters in the course of the Government work the Taoiseach outlined? Is it not reasonable, given the apolitical nature of the unit, that it would deal with all national public representatives in terms of feedback from the communications it monitors?
I am interested in finding out the definition of apolitical. Is it the same as the way non-electoral activity happens before the three week run-up to the election and has nothing to do with it? It is difficult to gauge where apolitical ends and political starts. Does the Taoiseach agree there is a political dimension to this work and, therefore, all parties should benefit from it?
The unit has no dealings with the headquarters of any political party as that would be totally inappropriate. For that matter, it has no dealings with Ministers and Ministers of State, it deals with the press offices of Departments. Its work during election periods is to send information to a Department and it is likely the Minister and Minister of State will be there. Other than that I would not change any of its functions.
Did the Taoiseach mean to say the communications unit has no contact with Ministers? I understand it does and I understand why it does.
The question is what happens in the course of a general election. Officeholders already enjoy a significant advantage by definition. During the course of an election campaign, although Deputies are no longer Members of this House, Ministers continue in their positions with access that is unavailable to those on this side of the House. Is the communications unit not supporting the infrastructure of ministerial involvement which, by definition, in an election campaign is politically partisan?
The question arises of that work being declared to the Commission on Standards in Public Office as a relevant payment. The unit costs around €350,000 per annum and whatever about the political impartiality of the good civil servants working in it, and I do not question that, the work in the context of an election in supporting and briefing Ministers is very political indeed.
The communications unit takes the daily news from the national broadcasting agencies and presents it to the Departments; Ministers and Ministers of State would then receive that. Individual Ministers look for reports from the unit through their own staff but it has no political purpose. It is not engaged in political activity on any given day. The unit provides information to a huge range of senior departmental officials. No political gain or benefit accrues to a politician from this unit either inside or outside an election period. Individual press offices in the political system gather their own information and notes, but the information gathered by this unit either inside or outside an election period is not of a political nature. There tends to be less activity in a Department during an election period and, therefore, the unit would be less busy because Departments may not seek as much information when the House is in recess. The unit's work at any time is not of a political nature and it is used only by Departments.
The question arises, if no benefit is conferred on Ministers, what is the point of the exercise in the first place. The information being conveyed and the fact of the communication is to brief and support Ministers and make them aware of what is being said, including by the Opposition, and so no. That benefit is not available to Deputies Sargent and Kenny, to me or any other Opposition Member. Has the Taoiseach sought a view from the commission, for example, on whether these transactions have no political content, particularly during a general election?
I have not done that. If I wanted to find out what anybody said on a political issue, I would ask my press office to check that rather than examining the nuanced report on the first 15 items of a news bulletin. That is not a great political issue and it would probably be quicker to listen to the news headlines. The unit does not provide any political benefit whatsoever, particularly during an election. It performs a useful function in providing the news reports to the entire Civil Service system and to Ministers and Ministers of State. When Departments seek information on what was said during programmes and transcripts of programmes, they contact the unit, which produces them, and that is of benefit because if Departments were to do this, they would use an external agency. The unit provides a useful service without any political connotation. Its work is produced by civil servants and I assure the Deputy they do not provide blow by blow insights into the political nature of issues. If I was trying to get a feel for what Deputies Rabbitte, Kenny or Sargent were saying about me, I would not check with the Civil Service.
They do not get the nuance.
The Minister for Defence, Deputy O'Dea, might want to know what I was saying about him before he writes about it in his Sunday newspaper column.
Why let the facts get in the way?
Who writes the column for him?
If the unit has no political connection, can we take it that it will close during the forthcoming general election campaign? What value does the Taoiseach see in having such a unit?
The Deputy will have other things on his mind.
Will the unit's staff call the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Sean Power, during the campaign to inform him they are talking about him in Wexford and he needs to issue a press release about that? Will the unit be closed during the general election?
The Taoiseach has always made the point that the unit saves Departments approximately €200,000 annually, yet its projected cost for 2006 is €352,626. The Taoiseach is spending €350,000 to save €200,000. There are many examples showing financial management to be a weakness in some Departments, so how does he justify this, if it is merely a floating information service? Will the communications unit be closed during the forthcoming election so people can see there is no political element to it? Cost is another issue with savings of €200,000 contrasting with costs of €350,000.
The Civil Service is not closing down during the election and the communications unit is part of the Civil Service structure. Before the communications unit, a range of news agencies made a small killing from Departments by collecting information from media sources and selling it on. It was a good service but it is now done by a unit within the Civil Service. The information provided by news programmes is made available throughout the Civil Service and it is good that the various information units within the Civil Service know what is being said and done. Deputies are welcome to go and have a look at the communications unit. I do not think they will find it of huge political benefit, but it provides a good service to Departments and agencies, though one would not use it as one's press office.
Departmental Expenditure.
Trevor Sargent
Ceist:8 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach the cost of political advisers in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37096/06]
Pat Rabbitte
Ceist:9 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach the cost in terms of salaries and expenses of political advisers or other political staff within his Department in respect of each year from 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38685/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 9 together.
The information sought by the Deputies is contained in a schedule which I propose to circulate with the Official Report.
Travel and subsistence payments are made at the appropriate civil service rates in respect of certified official travel and subject to the usual Civil Service regulations.
|
Year |
Cost |
|
€ |
|
|
2003 |
1,340,576.60 |
|
2004 |
1,525,306.60 |
|
2005 |
1,529,292.56 |
|
2006 (to date) |
1,625,142.67 |
I did not expect to hear about travel arrangements. Regarding the cost of political advisers, does the Taoiseach feel he is getting value for money? Should the type of adviser and the advice sought and given be examined? We have raised this issue previously, especially in regard to the responsibilities of Ministers of State, and Sustainable Energy Ireland raised related matters today. Regarding global heating, or climate change — there are many different terms now for the phenomenon — does the Government have an equivalent to the British Government's chief scientific adviser, Professor Sir David King? If so, will the Government act on the advice it will probably receive, given that we have re-coupled CO2 emissions with growing energy use and expect transport related energy to increase by over 8% every year for the foreseeable future? Is the Taoiseach receiving advice on climate change and is this advice coming from advisers or elsewhere?
A science group gives Departments and agencies advice in that field. We regularly ask members of agencies to present a briefing to Cabinet committees and meetings. This is a day-to-day feature of Cabinet committees in particular. The science group addresses senior staff in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment regularly.
I asked if there was an equivalent to the British Government's chief scientific adviser, Professor Sir David King, in the Irish context, and did not receive an answer. The Taoiseach said a group gives advice, but on the issue of carbon credit who advised that €270 million be given away to pay a fine?
This question refers specifically to the Taoiseach's Department.
I am trying to find out if an adviser exists. Apparently one does not, but a group fills this role. Will there be an adviser at that level? The Taoiseach will remember we had problems previously with a science adviser who did not have the proper qualifications.
I remind the Deputy we are referring specifically to the Taoiseach's Department.
It is fundamentally the Taoiseach's responsibility.
Yes, but not every Department comes under these questions.
On the Deputy's specific question of whether we have advisers similar to those referred to in No. 10 or No. 11, where there are contract advisers for practically every area, we do not operate such a system.
I asked about one person.
They have one person for everything, irrespective of the issue.
I would not say that about Professor David King.
They also have a science adviser.
I thought the Government has a science adviser.
Allow the Taoiseach to answer.
A science adviser works in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and we are working with that individual. A small group, the science committee, holds meetings which we attend to discuss issues including environmental issues. However, its members do not work in my Department but come from relevant Departments or, in many cases, relevant agencies. The Deputy is correct with regard to what happens in No. 10 but it would cost us a fortune to duplicate that in a country of 4.3 million people.
My question was whether the Taoiseach listens to advice.
I always listen.
Does the Tánaiste have a programme manager and is that manager located in the Taoiseach's office, as was the practice under the previous Tánaiste? Has the Taoiseach's former press officer been replaced or, if not, is it intended to replace him? I am aware he is trying to do for the HSE the job he did so well for the Taoiseach.
With regard to the most recent indication by the Taoiseach that 13 staff are employed in his private office and eight in his constituency office, are those figures still correct and, if so, are they not somewhat extravagant? My colleague, Deputy Costello, has one parliamentary assistant, whereas the Taoiseach has an entire infrastructure.
Deputy Rabbitte's last question comes under Questions Nos. 10 and 11.
As usual, the Ceann Comhairle is ahead of me.
The Ceann Comhairle is very sharp.
The Taoiseach might therefore address my other questions.
The Tánaiste has a programme manager who is based in my Department.
Is it a State secret?
No, his name is Mr. John O'Brien. He worked for the previous Tánaiste in a different capacity. My former Government press secretary is currently undertaking a different task and I do not intend to replace him. I share the work with the others.
The Minister for Defence will give the Taoiseach a dig out if he needs it.
Why not?
In terms of numbers, we have a small staff of advisers, contract advisers and press officers compared to what previously obtained. This is probably the biggest area of cutbacks in the public service in recent years.
The Taoiseach should not be too hard on himself.
Departmental Staff.
Pat Rabbitte
Ceist:10 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach the number of staff broken down by grade in private offices and constituency offices in respect of himself and each Minister of State within his Department; the annual costs in terms of salaries and expenses of each such office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38686/06]
Trevor Sargent
Ceist:11 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach the cost of staffing his private and constituency offices and those of his Ministers of State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41356/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 11 together.
The number of staff broken down by grade in my private office and constituency office, in the offices of the Minister of State and Government Chief Whip and the Minister of State for European Affairs, as well the annual costs in terms of salaries and expenses of each such office are detailed in material which I propose to include in the Official Report. With regard to Deputy Rabbitte's question, 12 staff, as well as one usher, are employed in my private office; and nine staff, four clerical officers and five others, are employed in my constituency office.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House.
Staff in my private office comprise one private secretary at assistant principal grade, one assistant principal, two assistant private secretaries at higher executive officer grade, one personal assistant, one staff officer, one executive officer, five clerical officers and one usher. The total cost, estimated to November 2006, of salaries including allowances and overtime for my private office is €675,217, while expenses total €2,508.
Staff in my constituency office comprise two personal assistants, one personal secretary, one executive officer, one staff officer and four clerical officers. The total cost of salaries including allowances and overtime for my constituency office is €291,442. No expenses are incurred.
Staff of the office of the Minister of State and Government Chief Whip comprise one private secretary at higher executive officer grade, one executive officer, two staff officers, one staff officer, one clerical officer, one personal assistant and one personal secretary. The total cost, estimated to November 2006, of salaries including allowances and overtime for the staff of the office of the Minister of State and Government Chief Whip is €389,430, while expenses total €7,312.
Staff of the office of the Minister of State for European Affairs, excluding Department of Foreign Affairs Staff, comprise one private secretary at higher executive officer grade and one clerical officer. The total cost, estimated to November 2006, of salaries including allowances and overtime for the staff of the office of the Minister of State for European affairs is €96,430, while expenses total €1,196.
I will repeat my question. While I accept the Taoiseach has a huge constituency workload, is it not the case that he has an extravagant array of staff to back him up? Such a facility is not afforded to the rest of us in any fashion. I note the Taoiseach said he has cut back on his level of staffing. The Taoiseach referred to the appointment of a personal tipstaff. Was that always there? Is that a new appointment? What exactly is the responsibility of that appointment? Is the Taoiseach saying there is now one person less in his private office than there was when this question was last answered, about a year ago?
They are all civil servants. Many of the people in the private office and the constituency office are civil servants who are always seeking promotions to other areas. There is always a movement of people. I do not think there is any great change. The individual in question is a former member of the staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas. I think the person held their entitlements from here. The person in question brings delegations and deputations from the gates of Government Buildings through the House, back and forward, on a daily basis. I think the person just happens to be somebody who was seconded from here. There was somebody else doing it, but it was not a member of the staff here. In the advisory staff, there is one less, or maybe even two less, over the last few years. Dr. Martin Mansergh became a Senator and there was also a change in the numbers. Most of the constituency staff are juniors. Most of them are from the former typist grades, the clerical officer grade and the staff officer grade. There are two personal assistants. I think all of the others, bar one, are civil servants.
The Taoiseach is one of the lucky Deputies who have constituency offices in respect of which they do not have to pay rent. Would the Taoiseach like to comment on the level of fairness in that regard? I refer to the fact that Deputies like him, who have property, are able to base their constituency offices in their own properties, whereas Deputies who have no property have to pay the commercial rate to rent such offices. Both categories of Deputy are treated the same by the Oireachtas, essentially. Is there not a need to look at that from the point of view of fairness? Although the Taoiseach is benefiting from this arrangement, I am sure he empathises with those of us who do not have the fortune to have mighty trusts providing us with offices free of charge.
I would like to ask a question that relates to the Taoiseach's own office. Will the Taoiseach tell the people in his office that it is not appropriate to send electoral material in Oireachtas envelopes with Christmas cards? The Taoiseach's Christmas cards include a request for people to help him with his canvassing or with anything else he needs to get re-elected. Has the Taoiseach given an instruction to his officials in that regard? While my colleague, Patricia McKenna, welcomed the Taoiseach's Christmas greetings, it came as a bit of a shock to her to be asked to help with the Taoiseach's canvassing. I thought it was quite audacious of the Taoiseach to make such a request. Will the Taoiseach advise his officials in that regard? None of us, least of all the Taoiseach, wants to get into trouble for flouting electoral regulations.
My political party has had a house and an office in my constituency since the 1940s.
The Taoiseach is very lucky.
Deputy Sargent's party might have a similar facility in due course. My party has moved from one office to another over the last 60 years.
I have two offices.
If Deputy Sargent's party were to make an effort to do likewise, it could be in exactly the same position.
That party is fairly active on the ground.
Now that Deputy Sargent has raised it, I think it is peculiar that even if one does not pay rent, one gets a form every year saying that one received the benefit of rent that one never paid. It is extraordinary. It is misleading because when people see it, they think one paid rent because one notionally declared it.
It does not cost anything.
Exactly, and then one sees a declaration that the value of it is €30,000 when there is no cost. It is totally confusing but those are the rules and I comply with them.
With regard to using Oireachtas envelopes, which I did, it is totally within my entitlement — I have had a chance to check this — to distribute what is not an electoral leaflet. I was shocked that Patricia McKenna was upset about this because only three days earlier she came to me to ask me to help her with the school her children attend. If she came to ask me to do that, I thought she might help me out. I did not think there was anything wrong with it.
There is no such thing as a free lunch.
I assure the Deputy I will help her out anyway.
I do not think eight people in the Taoiseach's constituency office is enough with other candidates coming to him for help. I do not know how he does it.
Too many staff.