Departmental Meetings.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 December 2007

Thursday, 6 December 2007

Ceisteanna (158, 159)

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

158 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his Department has a management advisory committee or an equivalent management committee; if it meets regularly; and if so, the frequency of same; if he and the Ministers of State attached to his Department attend the meetings; if a special advisor or advisors attached to the Ministerial Office or offices attend such meetings; if the minutes are circulated subsequent to each meeting with an indication as to the action to be taken by whom and when; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32974/07]

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

159 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he convenes specific policy meetings with officials in his Department; the way a policy meeting with officials is different to that of a management meeting, such as a management advisory committee meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32988/07]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Deputy Séamus Brennan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 158 and 159 together.

My Department has a Management Advisory Committee (MAC), which normally meets on a fortnightly basis. I attend the MAC meetings once a month together with my special adviser and press adviser. The minutes of all MAC meetings, setting out the matters discussed, decisions made and any actions to be taken are circulated to the staff in the Department.

I meet regularly with officials of my Department to deal with policy issues. These meetings differ from MAC meetings in that they focus on specific matters which are considered in depth and in respect of which detailed decisions are taken. Matters are dealt with at MAC meetings at a more strategic and overall management level.