Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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60. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the measures he is taking to deal with issues in his Department (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51749/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Taoiseach announced last week that the Government intends to appoint an external reviewer to examine the process of discovery for the Disclosures Tribunal with a view to reporting by Christmas.  In addition, a Change Implementation Group is to be established to assess progress in implementing the recommendations arising from the Toland report in 2014.  This will include a review of the culture and structure of the Department and the group will be asked to make recommendations for change.  That review will also examine in particular the relationship between the Department and An Garda Síochána to ensure that the relationship is appropriately structured and operates to ensure better performance.  I expect the terms of reference and membership of this Group to be finalised in the next week.   

I should say that the Toland Report recognised that “one of the key strengths” of the Department was the “willingness, flexibility and can-do attitude of many of its loyal staff” as well as the experience and depth of knowledge across a complex range of issues.  Since my appointment as Minister, I have found both management and staff in the Department and across the Justice and Equality sector to be capable, adaptable and fully committed to public service.  Change is a continuous process and in keeping with best international practice, earlier this year my Department contracted external management experts to undertake a stocktake of progress to date and assist the Department’s Management Board in prioritising further reform measures for the next three years. 

The Deputy will be aware that the culture of the Department has been highlighted as a key area requiring change.  I understand that following a wide-ranging consultation with staff and external stakeholders, a Culture and Values Charter was published in 2016 with the objective of fostering a more outward facing, listening organisational culture. These values form the core of all induction and leadership training with a view to informing the way in which the Department engages with the public, with staff and stakeholders and work is ongoing to ensure that this continues to be embedded in the organisation.  A positive outcome of the response to the Toland report is an increasing engagement with stakeholders both internal and external, including the Oireachtas Justice Committee. 

I have previously outlined my concerns to this House about the sheer scale and breadth of the Department's responsibilities.  The Toland Report also recognised this and called for a detailed analysis with a view to dividing the Department.  This analysis was conducted by external experts through 2016/2017 and concluded that such a restructuring should be progressed.  I would very much support that process. 

I envisage that both the stocktake process, in which both my predecessor and I participated, together with the structures review, will be helpful to the work of the Change Implementation Group.  For my own part I intend to fully support the management and all in the Department in completing this challenging change agenda.