Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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382. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reports commissioned by his Department since 2006 which while completed or are in final draft form have not been published; the reason they have not been published; the expected publication date; the cost to date of each such report; if tenders were invited; if it is not intended to publish any such report the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37549/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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My Department is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation).

The Department commissions external expertise where highly specialised skills are not available within the Department. Independent evaluation of programmes and analysis of issues by external experts has informed - and continues to inform - my Department’s policies, allowing for more targeted use of resources and greater accountability in the allocation of budgets. From time to time a number of consultancies are occasionally engaged directly by our Missions abroad. During the course of their engagements, these consultants/experts may prepare reports as internal management tools for my Department.

Where appropriate, my Department publishes information on and in an open and accessible manner on a routine basis having regard to the principles of openness, transparency and accountability.

It was not possible in the time available to set out the numbers of reports commissioned by my Department since 2006 which were not published. The tables set out the details of unpublished reports commissioned since 2011.