Mr. Martin Fraser:

In addition, members will have received detailed briefing material on the Department’s work programme when the Taoiseach appeared before the committee earlier this month to discuss the Department’s 2013 Estimates.

The strategy statement reflects our new responsibilities, structure, priorities and a new approach to how we do our business. It states that our purpose is to help the Taoiseach and the Government to resolve the current economic crisis, implement the programme for Government and to build a fairer society and a better future for Ireland and all her citizens. As civil servants, we are committed to providing an excellent service for the Government and the other institutions of State – which of course includes the Oireachtas – as well as for the public as citizens and users of public services. We do that work based on the principles of integrity, impartiality, effectiveness, equity and accountability.

The Department’s strategy statement, with the Taoiseach’s approval, sets out eight priorities for the period to 2014. These are headed by the most important, namely, jobs and economic growth, and also include: Europe; the programme for Government; service, which is intended to capture the various services provided by the Department to the Taoiseach, the Government and the public in general; reform; trust; fairness; and peace, which would refer mainly to Northern Ireland matters. It also sets out a number of horizontal themes, including developing our internal capacity and skills, a stronger focus on implementation, a greater emphasis on strategic thinking and forward planning, and changing the culture and rebuilding trust.

The strategy statement also emphasises that the Department's role requires strong working relationships with other Departments and agencies, and with stakeholders outside the public service. The annual report, which was approved by the Government yesterday and published, highlights the core activities of the Department during 2012. It emphasises the work of the Cabinet committee system, which is central to our role, reflecting the Government's commitment that the Department act as a Cabinet office. The annual report also gives an overview of developments in each of the eight strategic priority areas. This includes the exceptional responsibilities associated with Ireland’s current Presidency of the European Union, which continues to be a key area of work within the Department. Whereas there is much important work to be completed, it is fair to say that Ireland is viewed as running a very effective Presidency so far.

Of course, notwithstanding the wide range of work undertaken by the Department and across the Government, there are strategic priorities where we are not happy with the current position. We should never be happy if there can be improvements, and creating jobs and economic growth is the most important issue and we remain most concerned about it. Tackling the unemployment crisis is our first priority and it remains our biggest challenge. Unfortunately, given the unprecedented scale of the economic crisis, there is much work to be done on this and on other fronts.

I know one aspect of the Department’s work that is of interest to the committee is the IFSC Clearing House Group. I chair the Clearing House Group, which meets four of five times a year, and I have provided a briefing note on the work of the group and on the importance of the international financial services industry to Ireland. As chair, I have sought to emphasise a number of issues, including: the protection and creation of jobs through the implementation of the Government’s strategy for the industry published in 2011, if I remember correctly; transparency, notably through the publication of the minutes of the group for the first time since its establishment in 1987, as well as the publication of my diary; and the need for credible, responsible, proportionate and independent regulation, which is a very important part of how the industry must operate. I can elaborate on any of these issues for the members of the committee.

The strategy statement and annual report outline a significant amount of work undertaken across a very wide range of responsibilities by what is a relatively small organisation with fewer than 200 people by the end of the year. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the staff of the Department for all of the work and I am happy to take questions from the committee.