Written answers
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
Department of An Taoiseach
Departmental Bodies
9:00 pm
Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 114: To ask the Taoiseach the number of high level groups operating within his Department; the purpose of each group; the year each group was set up; the number of times each group has met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40341/10]
Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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In answering these questions I am interpreting "high level groups" as groups which are working on issues of specific interest, which are chaired by my Department and which include representatives from other parts of the civil/public service and elsewhere. Accordingly, the information sought by the Deputy is detailed in the following table.
| Name of High Level Group | Purpose | Year Set Up | Number of MeetingsApproximately |
| Interdepartmental Coordinating Committee on European Affairs (ICCEUA) | Works to ensure that there is a coordinated Irish approach to key policy issues at European level. The Committee has a particular focus on ensuring the timely transposition of European measures by Ireland. The Committee is also briefed on issues arising at key working groups in the EU. The meetings of the Committee serve to share information among Government Departments on EU issues. | 2002 | 82 |
| Senior Officials Group on European Affairs (SOG EU) | Works to ensure that there is a coordinated national approach to EU Affairs. It may also prepare specific material for the Cabinet Committee on European Affairs as required. | 2004 | 87 |
| Senior Officials Group on Health | Supports Cabinet Committee on Health. | 2004 | 49 |
| Working Group on Long-term Care | Taking account of the proposals in the Mercer and O'Shea Reports to: identify the policy options for a financially sustainable system of long-term care; and rationalise the range of benefits, services and grants (both statutory and non-statutory) currently in place, and address associated issues. | 2005 | 24 |
| National Disability Strategy Stakeholders Monitoring Group | Monitors progress on the implementation of the National Disability Strategy (NDS). | 2006 | 8 |
| Senior Officials Group on Disability | Monitors the NDS and reports to the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion, Children and Integration. | 2006 | 9 |
| Advisory Group on Social Finance and Philanthropy | Monitor and advise on the implementation of the social finance commitments in Towards 2016. | 2007 | 2 |
| Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) Network | To promote best practice and facilitate the use of Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) within and across Government Departments and Offices. | 2007 | 10 |
| Senior Officials Group on Climate Change & Energy Security | To support the work of the Cabinet Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security and ensure appropriate synergies with the relevant Cross Departmental Teams. | 2007 | 30 |
| Senior Officials Group on Economic Renewal | To support the work of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Renewal | 2008 | 26 |
| Senior Officials Group on Labour Market Issues | To support the Cabinet Committee on Economic Renewal in relation to labour market activation policies. | 2008 | 18 |
| Marine Co-ordinating Group | To promote increased co-ordination among relevant Departments in relation to marine related matters. | 2009 | 20 |
| Transforming Public Services Secretaries General Steering Group | Supports the Cabinet Committee on Transforming Public Services. | 2009 | 29 |
| Senior Officials Group on Economic Regulation | To monitor and implement the actions set out in the Government Statement on Economic Regulation which was published in October 2009. | 2009 | 8 |
| Regulatory Liaison Group | The Regulatory Liaison Group, which includes the Senior Officials Group on Economic Regulation and key economic regulators, was set up following the first Annual Regulatory Forum in February 2010 in order to progress key actions set out in the Government Statement on Economic Regulation and other issues agreed at the Forum. | 2010 | 2 |
| Transforming Public Service (TPS) Assistant Secretary Group | To widen consultation into the development of the transformation agenda for the Civil Service. | 2010 | 6 |
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