Written answers
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
Department of Finance
Departmental Bodies
9:00 pm
Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 210: To ask the Minister for Finance 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. [40336/10]
Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy has clarified that the information sought is in respect of high level groups appointed by myself to examine a specific issue and involve stakeholders outside the Department such as interest groups. The table below sets out the detail requested in respect of such groups.
| Entity | Purpose | Date formed and number of times the group has met |
| Credit Union Advisory Committee | The Credit Union Advisory Committee is a statutory advisory committee whose function is to advise the Minister for Finance in relation to -( a ) the improvement of the management of credit unions;( b ) the protection of the interests of members and creditors of credit unions; and( c ) other matters relating to credit unions | The current Advisory Committee was established from 1st September 2010 and has met on 2 occasions since then. The Committee plans to meet once a month on an ongoing basis over its 3 year term. |
| Civil Service Adjudicator and Civil Service Arbitration Board | The Chairperson (nominated by the Minister for Finance and appointed by the Government) and the two members of the Arbitration Board for the Civil Service (Employer representative and Staff representative) and the Adjudicator were appointed/re-appointed in July 2010. The term of appointment is until 30 June 2011.Under the terms of the Conciliation and Arbitration scheme for the Civil Service, there are two forms of arbitration – an Arbitration Board and an Adjudicator, The Arbitration Board deals with significant claims and the Adjudicator deals with other issues. | The Civil Service Arbitration Board has not met in the period since appointment in July 2010. The Adjudicator has adjudicated on a number of hearings on an ad-hoc basis since January 2010. |
| Disciplinary Code of Appeals Board and the Independent Mediator | Both the Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson are appointed by the Minister for Finance for a three year period – the current terms expire in June and December 2011.Current arrangements for handling grievance cases provides, amongst other things, for the appointment by the Minister for Finance of a Mediation Officer to whom certain grievance issues could be referred if they could not be resolved at earlier stages of the grievance procedure. | Sits as required to adjudicate on appeals made to the Board Appointment is renewed annually |
| Implementation Group for Reform of Regulatory Structures | A joint high level Department of Finance and Central Bank Group to implement reforms to the structures and associated powers and functions of financial regulation. | Established in 2009 and has met 12 times since then. |
| Preferred Policy Options Group | To examine CO2 mitigation options for Ireland. | First meeting – 22/07/09 and has met 12 times since then. |
| Mortgage Arrears and Personal Debt Expert Group | Having regard to the commitments in the Renewed Programme for Government to protect the family home and help those in personal debt, in February 2010 the Minister for Finance established the Mortgage Arrears and Personal Debt Expert Group, under the independent chair of Mr. Hugh Cooney, and insolvency accountant, to make recommendations to the Minister on options for improving the current situation for families with mortgage arrears and personal debt.The Expert Group is made up of the Chairman and 7 other external experts along with senior civil servants from Government Departments. The external members of the Expert Group are working on a pro-bono basis.The Expert Group submitted an interim report to the Minister in July. All of the recommendations were later accepted by Government and are being implemented. The Expert Group is due to complete its final Report shortly. | The Group has met on 23 occasions since its establishment. |
| Steering Group for the Introduction of a Single Social Contribution | This Interdepartmental Steering Group was established by the Minister of Finance in February 2010 to examine the issues surrounding the introduction of a Universal Social Contribution and to report back to him. The Group consists of representatives of the Department of Finance, the Department of Social Protection and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners. | The group has met 3 times thus far. |
| Tax Strategy Group | The Tax Strategy Group is an interdepartmental committee chaired by the Department of Finance which was set up in 1993. Membership comprises senior officials and advisors from the Departments of Finance, Taoiseach, Health and Children, Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Enterprise Trade and Employment, Social Protection and the Revenue Commissioners. The Group examines tax issues and Social Welfare issues in the run up to each year's Budget and Finance Bill. | The Group meets approximately 7 times a year. |
| Review Group on State Assets | This Group was established to examine State assets and liabilities and to advise on how the assets can be better used or disposed of to support economic growth and national investment priorities. | This work is ongoing in nature and is expected to provide an interim report before the end of the year. |
| Independent Review of the Department of Finance | The Independent Review Group was established to undertake a comprehensive evaluation of the systems, structures and processes of the Department of Finance relating to those elements of budgetary, economic, financial and public service management that are relevant to its role. | The work is ongoing in nature and an interim report is expected before the end of the year. |
| Commission of Investigation into the Banking Sector in Ireland | The Commission was established under Statutory Instrument No. 454 of 2010 to examine specific matters considered by the Government to be of significant public concern in relation to the Banking Sector in Ireland during the period 1 January 2003 to 15 January 2009. | The work is ongoing on this investigation. |
| Domestic Standing Group on Financial Stability | The DSG was established under a Memorandum of Understanding between the Dept of Finance, the Central Bank and the Financial Regulator in July 2007. The Group provides a mechanism for exchange of information relevant to the discharge of the parties' respective responsibilities in relation to financial stability. | The Memorandum of Understanding establishing the DSG provides that it will normally meet on a quarterly basis. However with the onset of the financial markets crisis the DSG has met more frequently than this. |
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