Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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267. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will support a matter on reform (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46943/15]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I note the correspondence the Deputy received from PeopleTalk in relation to public sector reform and citizen empowerment. I understand that PeopleTalk seeks to rebuild trust in public life and give citizens a say in public sector reform and I welcome any proposals that strengthen the voice of citizens, particularly at local level.  

As the Deputy will be aware, rebuilding public trust in government and state institutions has been a major priority of the Government since we took office in 2011. In this context, we have demonstrated our commitment to improving how we encourage and facilitate the participation of citizens in decisions that affect their daily lives. 

We recognise that effective engagement with citizens, be that in the design and delivery of services or in the development of legislative proposals, for example, is hugely important for achieving improved outcomes.  A number of reforms have recently been implemented to better listen to citizens and businesses and to foster participatory decision making. 

Ireland became a full member of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in July 2014 on publication of its first OGP National Action Plan (NAP).  Prior to this, an intensive process of consultation was undertaken in the development of the Plan. This culminated in a two day OGP Europe Regional Conference which was held in Dublin in May 2014, which brought officials and civil society together to discuss many topical issues and policies. A draft version of the OGP plan was published for public comment during the event. A number of open events have subsequently been held under the OGP banner to allow citizens, civil society, business and researchers to engage, give their views, inform and seek information.  

The Constitutional Convention is an example of effective engagement with citizens in public policy. The convention ran from December 2012 to March 2014. Its membership comprised 66 randomly-selected citizens, 33 politicians from both Houses of the Oireachtas and the Northern Ireland Assembly and an independent chair. The Convention made 38 recommendations including holding a referendum on marriage equality which took place on 22 May, 2015. The referendum was passed by a decisive majority and was the first time that a proposal for constitutional change put forward by a Constitutional Convention has resulted in actual Constitutional change.

One of the actions in the OGP Plan was to review existing public consultation guidance nationally and internationally and develop new proposals. A draft principles-based set of guidelines have been approved by the Government and were put out for public consultation.  A total of 50 submissions have been received on foot of that consultation process and these raise a lot of important issues, which my Department is currently considering. I will arrange to add PeopleTalk to the list of those who contacted the Department in this regard, so that they can be updated as this process is advanced.  

Separately, public consultations have taken place on a range of services and advisory groups are established where it is considered appropriate to assist in policy development.  Some examples in my own Department include consultations on Open Data Initiatives, Data Sharing, Accountability proposals and Corporate Governance arrangements for the Civil Service and just last month I launched a public consultation on Commissioning Human, Social and Community Services. 

More generally, we have implemented a significant programme of reforms aimed at making the Public Service more open, transparent and accountable. Examples include changes to how appointments are made to State Boards, reforming legislation in areas such as Freedom of Information, Protection of Whistleblowers, the scope and powers of Parliamentary Inquiries, the role of the Ombudsman, the regulation of Lobbying, and revision of the legislative framework for the management of conflicts of interest and standards of conduct of public officials.   

Finally, it is worth noting that there was extensive consultation at all of the key stages in the development of the above legislative reforms and they were among the  Bills that have been subjected to the pre-legislative scrutiny process by Oireachtas Committees.  Under this process, Oireachtas Committees seek written submissions on the Heads of the Bill or on the general subject matter from individual experts, stakeholder groups or interested parties; consult with the general public; and hold public hearings inviting individuals or groups to make presentations to the Committee.