Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 192: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her Department has a management advisory committee or an equivalent management committee; if it meets regularly; and if so, the frequency of same; if she and the Ministers of State attached to her Department attend the meetings; if a special advisor or advisors 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 she will make a statement on the matter. [32978/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has a Management Advisory Committee (MAC) and a Ministerial Management Advisory Committee (MINMAC). The MAC, which meets on a weekly basis, is chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science and is attended by senior officials within the Department. Neither I nor the Ministers of State attached to the Department attend MAC meetings.

The MINMAC meets on a monthly basis or more frequently as required. I chair MINMAC meetings and such meetings are generally attended by the Ministers of State attached to the Department, the Secretary General, senior officials within the Department, and my Ministerial Advisor.

The minutes of MAC and MINMAC meetings are circulated to senior officials within the Department for information purposes and appropriate action.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 193: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she convenes specific policy meetings with officials in her 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 she will make a statement on the matter. [32992/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has a Management Advisory Committee (MAC) and a Ministerial Management Advisory Committee (MINMAC). The MAC, which meets on a weekly basis, is chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science and is attended by senior officials within the Department.

I chair the MINMAC, which meets on a monthly basis or more frequently if required, and such meetings are generally attended by the Ministers of State attached to the Department, the Secretary General, and senior officials within the Department. I also meet with the Secretary General on a weekly basis and convene meetings with senior officials within the Department as required.