Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

A Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 to 20, inclusive, together.

The Secretary General of my Department has responsibility for the effective management and functioning of the Department which operates at the centre of Government. The core activities of the Department are set out in the statement of strategy and include delivering the executive functions of the Taoiseach and Government and supporting me as Head of Government to carry out my duties and implement the Government's priorities over the coming period.

My Department engages with the formulation and implementation of Government policy, especially through the Cabinet committee structure and ten such committees have been established by this Government to reflect the full range of policy areas that it will work on during its lifetime. In carrying out the responsibilities associated with his role, the Secretary General of my Department may also attend a range of cross-government groups, including the ten Cabinet committees established by the Government.

The groups currently chaired by the Secretary General of my Department include the Secretary General post-Cabinet briefing; Civil Service management board; climate action delivery board which is co-chaired with the Secretary General of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications; Housing for All delivery group; Secretary General Brexit group; Covid-19 oversight group; high-level steering board on policing reform; national security committee; north-east inner city oversight group; senior officials group on commemorations; senior officials group on the Creative Ireland programme; cross-government group on the creation of a national memorial and records centre; and national economic and social council. The Secretary General also chairs regular meetings of the Department's management board.

See this speech in context