Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the commitment in the Programme for Government to legislate for a reformulated code of laws, replacing both the Ministers and Secretaries Acts and the Public Service Management Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12335/13]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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In line with the Programme for Government commitment referred in the Deputy’s question, I am committed to bringing forward the necessary legislative changes or other reforms to meet the objective of ensuring greater clarity and certainty regarding the legal relationship between Ministers and their civil servants and the appropriate accountabilities that apply in each case.

I have asked the Government Reform Unit in my Department to carry out a review of the current accountability framework for ministers and civil servants set out in the Ministers and Secretaries Acts and the Public Service Management Act, 1997.

Work is now at a very advanced stage in my Department in finalising a consultation paper based on the outcome of that review. The paper examines the current legislative framework underpinning civil service accountability in these statutes, as well as the current administrative and organisational accountability arrangements in place. It also explores the international practice and developments in this area. The development of the consultation paper was also informed by discussions held in 2012 with a number of international and national experts as well as by discussions with senior officials at a small number of round table meetings.

I expect to bring this paper to Government shortly to seek approval for the publication of the consultation paper. It is intended that the paper should act as a basis for a process of wider consultation on the proposed reform options.

I look forward to hearing the views of the Deputy and other members of this House in the course of this consultation.