Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 79: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance 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 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 he will make a statement on the matter. [32981/07]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 80: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance 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. [32995/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take QuestionsNos. 79 and 80 together.

My Department has a committee consisting of senior management known as the management advisory committee or MAC which meets weekly to discuss progress on the Department's principal activities. The MAC may also meet more frequently if required. The minutes are circulated, with reference where appropriate to follow-up action required and the person or persons responsible.

The MAC also meets annually with each Assistant Secretary/Director and his/her staff down to and including Assistant Principal to discuss their divisional business plans, emerging short, medium or longer term issues, and principal strategic objectives. In addition, the MAC meets regularly with me (usually at 6-weekly intervals) to discuss key issues across the spectrum of the Department's activities, including the legislative programme, budgetary, spending, taxation and economic issues, and industrial relations issues. Attendance on these occasions includes my special advisors, my private secretary, and the Department's press officer. I also meet on a day-to-day basis with one or more senior officials from the various Divisions of my Department to discuss specific policy matters.