Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 7: To ask the Taoiseach the expert and consultancy reports that have been commissioned by him, or by the agencies under his aegis, since June 2007 to date in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35608/09]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 8: To ask the Taoiseach the number of reports commissioned from consultants since June 2007 to date in 2009; the cost in each case in respect of his Department and the agencies under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41723/09]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 9: To ask the Taoiseach the cost of consultancy reports commissioned by his Department and agencies under his remit since June 2007 and to date in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44308/09]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 9, inclusive, together.

The expert and consultancy reports that have been commissioned by me and the agencies under the aegis of my Department from June 2007 to date are listed in the following tables. The tables provide details of the expert and consultancy reports commissioned by the Department of the Taoiseach and the agencies under its aegis from June 2007 to date. Department of the Taoiseach

Agencies under the Department of the Taoiseach

National Centre for Partnership & Performance (NCPP)

* Amount incurred by the NCPP

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Economist intelligence unit undertook an independent benchmarking review to assess the comparative efficiency and effectiveness of Irish economic regulators. That report was due to be published after six months and was due last September 12 months. By the end of 2008, the cost of it stood at €408,000. It was finally published in May 2009. What was the final cost of the review? On foot of that report, the Taoiseach established the annual regulatory forum in October. What are the arrangements for that forum to work? How will it be monitored and how does the Taoiseach see it producing valuable reports for Government to act on?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The cost of that review of the economic regulatory environment was €108,900. The forum was one of the recommendations of the report where, on an annual basis, it would interact with the relevant regulators to review how regulation was handled during the course of that year and any issues which arose from it.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Minister for Foreign Affairs was very anxious that the Pope would answer queries from the Department about the Murphy report on child abuse. He was not so anxious to respond when almost €1 billion was illegally taken from elderly people in nursing homes. He said it was not his responsibility. Over the years there has been a raft of consultancy reports which have never been acted on.

Turning to a slightly different question, I notice Deputy Ring has focused on €125,000 being spent on a report to count the number of frogs in the country on the eve of a frightening budget. Was this matter discussed at Cabinet or did the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government hop it on the Cabinet table and nobody saw it? How is it proposed that this consultancy report will get into every wetland field in the country to count the number of frogs? The Minister, Deputy Gormley, has said it will take two years to complete this.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Tell him to dry up.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

What is the pressing evidence that required the Minister to come to Cabinet and say that he must commission a consultancy report to count the number of frogs in the country within the next two years?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The number will be smaller next year.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Perhaps the Government is looking to tax them.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

When my own late father was responsible for the Office of Public Works he was asked by his opposite number, the then Deputy Lemass, how many seagulls flew over the Phoenix Park in 12 months. Does the Taoiseach consider the €125,000 cost for the report is justifiable, given that Deputies are inundated with requests for books from schools and children are being asked to bring toilet paper with them in the morning? Is this the focus of the Green Party in Government? Is the Minister hopping mad that this has been discovered?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy asked a question on the economic regulatory environment which comes under my Department. I explained that the cost was €108,900 and the recommendations of the consultancy report are being looked at and implemented. The questions relating to the habitats directive and the National Parks and Wildlife Service perhaps should have been contemplated when the Government that brought in the legislation - on the Opposition's watch - made such obligations to deal with various biodiversity issues that arise. It is important that the origin is put on the record.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Is the Taoiseach saying we are responsible for counting the frogs?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The habitats directive-----

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is no wonder we are in the state we are.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Taoiseach, without interruption.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I have heard the Opposition blamed for many things but that is a new one.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Deputy Flanagan, could we hear the Taoiseach out?

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Was nothing done in the past 14 years?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The legislation that implemented the habitats directive in this country was enacted by the Deputy's Government. He supported it.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

A frog census.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Frogs are keeping the Minister awake at night. The budget certainly is not.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The issue of biodiversity came up and the Deputy's party found it very important to legislate for it at the time.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

How do we know we are not counting the same frog twice?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It was very important to bring in the habitats directive but the Government of the day did not decide to spend €125,000 on a consultancy report counting the number of frogs in the country.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The question should be directed to the relevant Minister.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Are we to see the spectre of the Minister, Deputy Gormley, in his sandals tramping through the wetlands of the midlands counting frogs at dawn or dusk?

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Deputy Kenny.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Does he know the activities at dawn and dusk of the frog population? What is the evidence that he will produce as to the value of this at the end of it all?

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

He could do us all a favour and check the bog holes.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

A question like that should be directed to the relevant Minister and not the Taoiseach.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

We could be doing more than spending money on that at this time.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I call Deputy Gilmore.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is frog watch. The Minister will be frog-marching around the country.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I will leave the frogs for a moment. I have heard the Government accuse the Opposition of many things but whatever we may have done a long time ago, we were not going around counting frogs.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Opposition enacted the legislation.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

That is great.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy must live with it as the Opposition enacted the legislation when in Government.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Who put this out to tender? It was not the Opposition.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I wish to discuss this review of the economic regulatory environment, which cost €408,000.

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is €108,000.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

A reply to Deputy Burton on 6 October has a figure of €408,375.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

That relates to the regulatory impact analysis.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It states it is a "review of the economic regulatory environment". Is that different?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is described to me as the operation of the regulatory impact analysis.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Who did that?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy's is different. I do not have the authors of the reports.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

What was involved in that report? The McCarthy report looked at-----

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is a technical question that asked for the statistical details-----

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy is going into detail.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am asking a supplementary question arising from the original question, which concerns the costs of consultant reports. This states, "Review of Economic Regulatory Environment - €408,375". Why did it cost that much? The wide-ranging McCarthy report cost one tenth of that. Why is the Government paying large sums for reports on the regulatory environment? What was involved?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

An independent review in line with the terms of Towards 2016 of the operation of regulatory impact analysis, RIA, was commissioned to assess the effectiveness of the RIA model across Departments. The report was published in July 2008 and it is available on the better regulation website. It indicates overall that good progress has been made in the implementation of RIA across Departments, with 74 produced between 2005 and February 2008. The report also finds that supports made available to officials conducing RIAs are well regarded. RIA training has resulted in a significant increase in analytical skill sets across the Civil Service. These skills help to ensure that all impacts, including unintended ones, are assessed through the RIA process, resulting in better quality legislation. The Government agreed to implement the recommendations in the report.

The guidelines were revised as a result of the recommendations. Training materials have also been updated to take account of recommendations arising from the review and an updated training course run in conjunction with the Civil Service training and development centre, CSTDC, is available to officials on an ongoing basis. The better regulation unit has also made a number of other targeted presentations to officials outlining the changes to the RIA system resulting from the review and the unit is also working with the CSTDC to develop an on-line training solution.