Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In December 2017 last I launched Our Public Service 2020, the new framework for development and innovation in the public service. The new reform framework focuses on supporting sustainable, continuous progress across the public service. Our Public Service 2020 has three priority pillars: delivering for the public, innovating for our future and developing people and organisations. There are18 actions which include new initiatives and actions focused on building on reforms already in place.  We are also moving the focus of reform to achieving outcomes that will have a positive impact on the public. With this goal in mind, my Department has established a reform evaluation unit to focus on monitoring and evaluating the outcomes of reform, as well as creating greater links between expenditure and reform.

A strengthened model of governance is being put in place to oversee implementation of the actions in Our Public Service 2020 with the establishment of a new public service leadership board. The board includes Secretary General-CEO level participation drawn from the Civil Service and a broad range of public service organisations.

In the Civil Service the next phase of implementation of renewal will aim to deepen and embed renewal and also consolidate and implement current programmes. Other priority actions for 2018 include work to strengthen policy making; improve the delivery of shared whole-of-government projects; and support the development of a national data infrastructure.

The Government continues to pursue a legislative agenda in this area. The Minister of State, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, is working on the Public Sector Standards Bill and the Data Sharing and Governance Bill.

11 o’clock

My Department is also leading on Ireland's open data initiative, which is a key part of the public service reform agenda. We want to be a leader in open data and create an environment in which the economic, social and democratic benefits of open data are recognised and realised.

See this speech in context