Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 50: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will clarify the circumstances of the commissioning of a report (details supplied); the actual authors of this report; when it was commissioned and by whom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5164/11]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Report of the Independent Review Panel: Strengthening the Capacity of the Department of Finance was commissioned by the Minister of Finance, following his commitment at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance and Public Service that a review would be carried out to assess the Department of Finances policy advice and performance over the past 10 years and to make recommendations on how best the Department might adapt to meet the challenges of the future. On 10th September 2010, the Minister announced the composition of the Review Panel and its terms of reference. The members were;

· Mr Rob Wright, Chairman, former Secretary General, Department of Finance, Canada

· Mr Hans Borstlap, former Director General, Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, Netherlands

· Mr John Malone, former Secretary General, Department of Agriculture and Food, Ireland.

Mr Pat McArdle provided support and assistance to the Panel. The Report provides a set of recommendations to modernise management, reform existing organisational structures and increase substantially technical economic and other skills, some of which are matters for consideration by Government. The Report was published on 1 March and is available on the Department's website http://www.finance.gov.ie