Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 December 2010
9 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation if he has set new goals for his Department in the strategy statement which was due to be completed in September 2010; the reason he has not published the strategy statement to help inform the Houses of the Oireachtas on choices that have to be made in budgetary planning in 2011 and subsequent years [45432/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn fulfilment of the provisions of the Public Service Management Act 1997, my Department has prepared a draft statement of strategy 2011-13 for my consideration. The Department has arranged for this draft to be forwarded to the Department of the Taoiseach for consultation, in accordance with the revised guidelines for the preparation of strategy statements issued last July.
In preparing the draft statement of strategy, my Department gave considerable time to determining appropriate goals, objectives and strategic actions for the Department for the three years ahead. The range of actions identified in the draft covers all aspects of the work of my Department, aimed at, among other things, growing employment and foreign earnings through enterprise and trade, and through building the smart economy; better regulation of markets and enhanced consumer welfare, and fostering good industrial relations, employment rights and health and safety awareness and compliance.
The statement reflects the need to achieve greater efficiencies and effectiveness in the delivery of these actions and will provide a range of indicators against which performance can be measured over the period covered by the strategy. The strategy statement also takes into account the actions identified in the Government's integrated trade, tourism and investment strategy, Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy, which was published in September. Having consulted with the Taoiseach and taking account of any necessary amendments arising from the actions included in the national recovery plan and budget 2011, I will arrange for a copy of the statement to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas within 60 days of my formal approval of the draft document as required by the 1997 Act. I will also arrange for the appropriate dissemination of the statement at the earliest opportunity.
I do not suppose the Minister would say when he proposes to publish it. Is the Minister disturbed that last year his Department failed to meet 40% of the targets set for it and that his Department is singularly failing to achieve the targets set in its annual output statement? The position is similar in respect of 2007. What are the consequences in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation for officials who make commitments to deliver certain targets and fail? Does the Minister cut their bonuses or assess their failure in any way? Is there any form of sanction or reward for particular performance? People are getting exasperated with Government publishing glossy plans and public servants committing to targets, in respect of which when they fail everyone stands with one arm as long as the other as if it was an act of God.
Is the Minister planning or has he already taken action against officials who have consistently put up targets that they do not deliver?
On the Department not meeting its targets as set out in the last strategy, it must be accepted that last year was an extraordinary year.
They did not achieve them for the previous year or the year before that.
Across the world, Departments did not meet targets because of the fall-out from the recession.
With respect, this is the usual response.
What did Deputy Bruton do when Minister?
The Minister should answer the question.
Please allow the Minister to conclude.
How many bonuses did Deputy Bruton cut when Minister?
How many people did he sack at that time?
Please allow the Minister, Deputy O'Keeffe, to continue without interruption.
How many officials did Deputy Bruton sack?
Bonuses have been removed from the public service. I thought given the controversy surrounding that issue that Members would be aware of that.
I am aware of it.
We must set realistic targets. This year, all agencies and officials in the Department were involved in drawing up the strategy. Deputy Bruton is correct that it is important the targets we set are realistic and achievable. The procedure has been changed in that now for the first time the public have been invited to make submissions on the strategy. Six submissions on the strategy made to my Department have been taken into account. A further change is that the strategy must now be sent to the Taoiseach's office for final consideration in terms of the targets set. The Taoiseach wants to ensure that the targets set are realistic and achievable. The consultation process between myself and the Taoiseach must take into account the national recovery plan and budget provisions. It is therefore sensible that we await finalisation of these matters before we sign off on the strategy.
Will the Minister agree that if there is no sanction for failing to meet targets and if Ministers offer blanket forgiveness in this regard because, say, it was a hard year there is no chance that targets will be taken seriously? There is a link between what one commits to deliver and what happens afterwards. If one fails, there must be some level of accountability. The Minister has simply stated that last year was a difficult year. Some 40% of the targets set for the previous year, which was not such a difficult year, were not met. The same applies in respect of the year before that. Does the Minister not accept the principle that one must have some system of accountability with consequences within his Department or we will continue to go around in circles?
I, with my three Ministers of State, ensure my officials are accountable. We ensure the targets they set are achievable. Provision has now been made for public consultation and consultation with the Taoiseach on the matter.
Perhaps Deputy Calleary will comment. We might get a better response.
There is no point setting targets unless they are realistic. On the basis of the ingenuity that resides within my Ministers of State and the common sense that prevails, the targets we set will be achieved and people will be held accountable.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
