Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 181: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his Department has a management advisory committee or an equivalent management committee; if it meets regularly; and if so, the frequency of same; if he and the Ministers of State attached to his Department attend the meetings; if a special adviser or advisers attached to the ministerial office or offices attend such meetings; if the minutes are circulated subsequent to each meeting with an indication as to the action to be taken by whom and when; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32976/07]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 182: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he convenes specific policy meetings with officials in his Department; the way a policy meeting with officials is different to that of a management meeting, such as a management advisory committee meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32990/07]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 182 together.

My Department has a Management Advisory Committee (MAC) chaired by the Secretary General that meets on an ongoing basis to address general high-level issues relating to the Department and on occasion to address specific issues. In addition, I personally meet the MAC, on a monthly basis. Ministers of State at my Department generally attend these meetings, particularly when specific items relating to their functions are to be discussed. Advisors also generally attend. Standard arrangements for formal meetings regarding minutes etc. are observed.

Separately of course I meet my officials on particular policy matters, including, at times, at the request of my officials to address either long-term policy issues, to review performance of programmes and to consider proposals for adjustments and amendments. These differ in that they tend to deal with specific policy or operational issues. These meetings can vary from the relatively formal to an informal "touching base" nature. I understand the Ministers of State at my Department operate in a broadly similar way.