Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Following Government approval, I submitted a letter expressing Ireland's intent to participate in the Open Government Partnership on 15 May last. Therefore, Ireland has joined other newly implementing countries that are developing national action plans. The development of Ireland's first national action plan is well under way. The participation of civil society in the Open Government Partnership process is fundamental to the development of the action plan. Proposals and recommendations for inclusion in the action plan were discussed at three public meetings of a network of civil society and other interests which were held over the summer months, as well as through online contributions. The report of a consultation with civil society representatives and citizens across Ireland on the Open Government Partnership process was submitted to me on 1 October. The report, which proposes a number of recommendations, is available on my Department's website.

A number of the recommendations contained in the group's report focus on transparency and accountability. The proposals reflect a strong desire among citizens and civil society in general to be provided with the information they need to understand how decisions are made, how public funds are spent and how individuals and institutions are held to account. One of the recommendations involves improving the budgetary data, transparency and timelines. It reflects, inter alia, the view that there should be more public discussion and analysis of budgetary proposals.

The recommendations made in the course of the OGP consultation process are consistent with the Government's commitments to bring about a major transformation of Ireland's budgetary system. As the Deputy will be aware, a number of initiatives are under way which increase budget transparency and accountability. The key elements of the budgetary reform agenda were outlined in the public service reform plan published in November 2011. These reforms are the annual stability programme update published in April each year, a modern, multi-annual framework that has been put in place, departmental Estimates being presented in a different and more accessible format, a performance budgeting initiative being implemented, expenditure ceilings, which were on an administrative basis, now being on a statutory footing through the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2013, and the Government increasing its ongoing scrutiny and evaluation of public expenditure, with all value for money studies now being published.

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All of the foregoing reforms allow greater opportunities for Oireachtas Members, as representatives of the public, to play a more substantive role throughout the entire budgetary process, from initial allocation of funds through to holding Ministers and public service managers to account for the achievement, or non-achievement, of stated performance targets. Moreover, the Government is moving towards a whole-of-year budgetary timetable that allows for greater and more meaningful engagement by Oireachtas committees in contributing to Estimates discussions in advance of the allocations being finalised. In this regard, my Department has supported the Houses of the Oireachtas Service in piloting this new approach to briefing select committees. This framework of budgetary reform will facilitate further consideration of the proposals on budgetary transparency contained in the report of the consultation undertaken by civil society.

As part of the next phase of the Open Government Partnership process, I intend to bring a memorandum to Government shortly outlining the civil society group's report and submissions received. I expect, subject to Government approval, to establish a group comprising both public officials and civil society representatives who will give further consideration to all recommendations made, including on budgetary matters, and to prioritise in terms of what is realistic and achievable over the next two years for inclusion in the first action plan. Action plans cover a two year period and we will report on progress annually.

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