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Oireachtas Update

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Dáil

Seanad

Issue 190 June 20 2011

Committees

Appointment under the Garda Whistleblower Regulations

Mr Oliver J. Connolly has been appointed as a Confidential Recipient under the Garda Síochána (Confidential Reporting of Corruption or Malpractice) Regulations 2007. He will replace Mr. Brian McCarthy whose term has recently expired. The role of the confidential recipient is to be available to receive in confidence reports of corruption or malpractice within An Garda Síochána from Garda members or civilian employees.

On Tuesday June 21 the motion regarding the Criminal Justice Act 2009 and Offences Against the State Act 1998 will be discussed. On Wednesday June 22 statements will be heard on the European Council meeting and the Finance no 3 Bill will be discussed. The Ministers and Secretaries Bill 2011 will be discussed on Thursday June 23.

To view additional appointments, follow this link

Three new members appointed to Institute of Directors in Ireland

Chartered Director and Chartered Account-ant, Tom Byrne has been appointed to the position of President of the Institute of Direc-tors in Ireland (IoD) and will serve a two-year term. He was previously Vice-president of the Institute.Myra Garrett, Ita Gibney, and Kevin Neary-have also all been formally elected to the board of the Institute.

The first report by the

Implementation Body of the Croke Park Agreement, chaired by Mr P.J. Fitzpatrick, shows that vast savings have been made during the review period of between March 2010 and end-March 2011, yet the body stressed that “more urgency and ambition” is needed to maintain services and to secure further savings. Productivity in the use of resources will have to be greatly increased in 2011 through revised work practices etc. while the development of an accelerated public service reform agenda will bring additional challenges.

Progress to date: Pay bill and staff numbers

Estimated savings of €289m have been made by the public service pay bill in the 12 months under review. There has also been a reduction of 5,349 in the number of public servants over the period of review. The reduction was achieved primarily through voluntary means. This figure includes staff at Principal Officer Level (7.2 percent) and Assistant Secretary (and above) level (4.6 percent).The pay bill has also been reduced through a reduction in overtime payments (€6.3m) revised working arrangements in hospital laboratory services in 2011 (€5m) and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine has undertook to reconfigure and restructure its local offices which has led to savings of approximately €17m. €10m has been saved annually within the education sector with the reduction of approximately 2,000 responsibility posts in primary and post-primary schools.

Non-pay bill savings

The report also outlines substantial savings made through greater internal efficiencies and non-pay cost savings. One example of this is the OPW which has saved €8.75m through the yielding of office

accommodation. Other savings have been generated by a more efficient approach to travel, a reduction in the cost of purchasing goods and services, a more rigorous approach to achieving value for money and general renewed priorities.

Redeployment

To facilitate the large reduction in staff, redeployment is one of the necessary criteria of the CPA. The most notable redeployment so far is the move of approximately 1,000 Community Welfare Service Staff from the HSE to the Department of Social Protection. There has also been significant movement of staff into this Department to facilitate the increase on the live register. Redeployment has also been initiated by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, within the Education Sector and by the Garda Siochana.

Changing work practices

Costs are also being decreased though changing work practices such as centralised administration, shared services, eDelivery platforms and rationalisation. Local Authorities have avoided costs of €61.1m, the Report shows.

Croke Park Agreement: First progress report

Progress made under Croke Park Agreement exceeds targets while consistent efforts must continue - Implementation Body

Committees will meet this week where they will elect the Chairmen and Vice -Chairmen.

On Tuesday June 21 a discussion will take place on the transfer of functions of Dundalk Port Company. On Wednesday June 22, statements will be heard on the Jobs Initiative and Competitiveness. On Thursday June 23, the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011 will be discussed at the second stage.

Tuesday June 21 Wednesday June 22 Thursday June 23

NEWS

Committee Update: Week Beginning June 20

Seanad Update: Week beginning June 20Dáil Update: Week beginning June 20

Referenda confirmed for October 2011 An Taoiseach Enda Kenny told the Dáil last week

that three Referenda will be held on the same day as the presidential election in October of this year. There will be a vote on a reduction of the pay of serving judges, a referendum to overturn the input of the Abbeylara judgement which would give Dáil Committees additional powers of investigation and a referendum on Whistblowers rights and protection.

While “the commitment will be honoured” the Government will not hold a referendum on children’s rights as “it would not be possible to finalise all the elements” involved. The issue will however be pursued by the Minster for Children and Youth Affairs.

There will be no referendum to ban corporate donations but instead the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government is preparing legislation to deal with the matter and it will come before the Dáil in the not too distant future, the

2.30pm Questions (Taoiseach)

3.15pm Questions (Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources)

4.15pm Leaders Questions

4.36pm Order of BusinessMotion re: Transfer of functions of Dundalk Port Company

Motion re: PQ Rota Change (Department of Health and Department of Children and Youth Affairs)

Motion re: Membership of Committees (without debate) Motion re Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 (Department of Justice and Equality)

Motion re Offences Against the State Act 1998 (Department of Justice and Equality)

Central Bank and Credit Institutions (Resolution) (No 2) Bill 2011 Order for Second Stage and Second Stage (Department of Finance)

7.00pm Private Members Business

10.30am Leaders Questions

10.51am Order of Business

11.21am Questions (Taoiseach)Motion re Estimates Referral to Committee (without Debate) (Department of Finance)Statements pre European Council Meeting

Finance No 3 Bill 2011 Order for Second Stage and Second Stage (to conclude at 10.00pm if not previously concluded) (Department of Finance)

1.30pmSOS

2.30pm Questions (Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht)

3.45pm Morning Business continued

7.00pm Private Members Business

10.30am Order of Business

Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011 - Committee and Remaining Stages

(Department of Finance)

Questions (Minister for Justice and Equality)

Croke Park Agreement: Progress Report Survey

Prior to a PAI Conference in September 2010 on the Croke Park Agreement (CPA), a survey was conducted which

questioned delegates on a range of issues regarding the implementation of the Agreement. The results represented an interesting snapshot of public sector opinion on the agreement with 71.7 percent of those surveyed were from the Public Service. To coincide with the publication of the first progress report by the Implementation Body, PAI is launching another survey to gauge the progress of the CPA from the perspective of individual public servants and to compare current attitudes to the position 12 months ago.

We would really appreciate if you would take the time to complete this survey, the results of which will be published in the next edition of the PAI Update and will provide an interesting insight into the first year of the implementation of the CPA. To complete this survey please click here. Please note this survey is entirely confidential.

Tuesday June 21 Wednesday June 22 Thursday June 23

Tuesday June 21 Wednesday June 22 Thursday June 23

2.30pmEnvironment, Transport, Culture and the GaeltachtCommittee Room 3, Leinster House Election of Chairman and Election of Vice-Chairman

3.30pmJustice, Defence and EqualityCommittee Room 2

Election of Chairman and Vice-ChairmanMotion: Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the report by the Minister for Defence regarding service by the Defence Forces with the United Nations in 2010 [Minister for Defence]

1pmAdministrationCommittee Room 2Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman

2pmCommunications, Natural Resources and AgricultureCommittee Room 1Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman

2.30pmJustice, Defence and EqualityCommittee Room 3Election of Chairman and Vice-ChairmanMotion: Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the report by the Minister for Defence regarding service by the Defence Forces with the United Nations in 2010 [Minister for Defence]

3pmForeign Affairs and TradeCommittee Room 4Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman

10amPublic Accounts Committee Room 1

Private Meeting 11.00amHealth and Children Committee Room 4 Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman

11.30amEuropean Union AffairsCommittee Room 2

Election of Chairman and Election of Vice-Chairman

2.30pm

Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform Committee Room 2

2.30pm

Motion re the Harbours Acts 1996 to 2009 (Transfer of Functions of Dundalk Port Company) Order 2011 (Referral to Committee without Debate) (Department of Tourism, Transport & Sport)

3.45pm

Private Members Time (Independent Group)

5.45pm

Matters on the Adjourn-ment

10.30 am

Order of business

11.45am

Statements on the Jobs Initiative and Competitiveness (Resumed)

1.00 pm

SOS

2.30 pm

Statements on European Affairs [Minister for European Affairs]

4.30pmPrivate Members’ Business: Private Members Motion [Labour Group]

6.30pm

Matters on the Adjournment

10.30 am

Order of business

11.45 amSocial Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011 - Second Stage [Joan Burton T.D., Minister for Social Protection]

2.30 pm

Matters on the Adjournment

Committee Update: Week Beginning June 20

DEPARTMENTS OF STATE

Future of forestry addressed at international conferenceMinisters from all across Europe met this week at a summit in

Norway to discuss the future of forestry with Irish Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Shane McEntee in attendance. This is the sixth conference of its kind and this year representatives were called on to commit to the proposal “European Forests 2020” aimed at sustainable forest management for the future. Ministers at the three day conference will consider the key resolutions including developing and implementing national forest programmes. Addressing the conference, Minster McEntee said the vision was “ambitious” but “realistic.”

Also discussed was the proposal for a legally binding agreement on forests in Europe and the establishment of an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee.To read an interview with CEO of Coillte Ireland, David Gunning in a recent PAI Journal, click here.

Minister of State for Trade and Development, Jan O’Sullivan, TD has announced the Review of the 2006 White Paper on Irish Aid,

the Government’s programme for overseas development.The Review will be led by the Irish Aid Expert Advisory Group, whose

role is to offer independent advice to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister of State for Trade and Development on the aid programme.

The review group is chaired by Chris Flood, former Chair of the Advisory Board for Irish Aid and a former Minister of State at the Department of Health and at the Department of Sports and Tourism.Members include Professor Tom Lodge, Professor Patrick Fitzpatrick, Professor Jane Harrigan, Donal McNally, and Ronan Murphy.

The White Paper on Irish Aid, published in 2006, sets out Ireland’s vision for development, and outlines how and where the Irish Aid programme will work to achieve the primary aim of poverty reduction.

Alan Shatter, TD, Minister for Justice and Equality has announced a new system whereby persons applying for citizenship will be given

a decision on their application within six months.Prior to this, those wishing to become Irish citizens could have

expected to wait on average 26 months. Given the complex nature of application forms, 55 percent of all citizenship applications received by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service had to be returned to applicants due to their being incorrectly completed. To remedy this, new applications will be available from June 17 on. The Minister has announced the introduction of a Citizenship Ceremony.

The Minister also intends to implement streamlined and accelerated checking procedures for certain categories of applicants and plans will be put in place to recruit a number of interns under the new Internship Programme.

The principal statutory requirements under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 for a non-national in applying for naturalisation is 5 years reckonable residence, including 1 year’s continuous residence immediately prior to the date of application and that the applicant is of good character.

Plan your training needs in advance and save 20%To coincide with the launch of our Autumn/Winter 2011 training calendar, we would like to offer you 20% off any training booked between now and June 30. This should help your organisation to make considerable savings while planning your autumn/winter training in advance. For further information please visit our website, email

info@publicaffairsireland.com or call 01 8198500.

- Upcoming conferences, courses and seminars - Click on the date for more information on the topic

Seanad Update: Week beginning June 20

The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn, TD has announced 1,000 new Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) places as part of the Govern-

ment’s Jobs Initiative Scheme.The additional places will be spread out over various VEC centres in

Ireland and will bring the total number of PLC places to 32,688. These will allow for the training and up-skilling of the unemployed and form part of the 16,000 educational places provided for under the current employment scheme.

Commencing in September 2011, the new places are being funded through a combination of departmental savings and an additional €2 mil-lion from the Exchequer. PLC courses provide students with a level 5 or 6 qualification and can act as a gateway into third level colleges for Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) students.

Conference

Cloud Computing in Ireland - Unleashing the PotentialConrad Hotel, Dublin, June 30th

Courses

Basic BookkeepingCommences July 7th

Seminars

Leadership SkillsTuesday June 21st

Using Social Media in the Public SectorThursday June 23rd

Risk Management in the Public SectorTuesday June 28th

Dealing with Difficult StaffWednesday June 29th

Financing Energy SavingsThursday 30th June

Legal Professional PrivilegeTuesday July 5th

Public procurement in a climate of reduced resourcesTuesday July 5th

1000 new PLC places announced

New arrangements for citizenship applications

Review of White Paper on Irish Aid to convene

“Radical” new housing policy to reform entire sectorThe Government’s “radical” new housing policy that will reform and

serve as a framework for future legislation was launched last week. Speaking at the 2011 Housing Practitioner’s Conference , Minister of State for Housing, Willie Penrose, TD made this announcement saying that the new structure would ensure that the housing bubble would “never again” destroy Ireland’s economy.

The substantial reform will respond to current conditions and focus on a number of areas such as regulating the private rental sector by giving extra legislative power to the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB); the removal of the affordable housing programme; increased focus on social housing; and a framework of support for the homeless and those with special needs.

Rent supplement which was originally designed as short term sup-port and not long term housing needs. The housing authorities will now assume responsibility for housing needs of long term rent supplement recipients, replacing the community welfare service.

Thursday June 23

www.publicaffairsireland.com

The new Government has identified Cloud Computing as an area of growth and development in the coming years. The Programme for Government contained a specific commitment to make Ireland a leader in the emerging IT market of Cloud Computing – a sector which has been identified as yielding potentially significant employment and investment potential by 2014 – including employment potential of up to 10,000 new jobs.

The new Government has also committed to promoting the greater use of Cloud Computing in the Public Sector. The advantages of such a programme for the public sector, particularly in the current economic climate, are significant – for example greater use of cloud computing in the public sector can reduce the significant additional financial investment in hardware, ongoing maintenance and additional technical resources.

Importantly investing in Cloud Computing can also allow the public sector to capitalise on this new approach to the delivery of ICT services and to tap into global developments in this exciting new area.

What challenges will the adoption of this new technology raise around the protection of personal data and privacy? How will the traditional concerns of the Public Sector around confidentiality, privacy and security protocols be met and how has Cloud Computing worked already in a number of real cases?

These are among the issues that will be addressed at this special Public Affairs Ireland conference on Cloud Computing. The keynote address will be provided by the Minister for Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation Richard Bruton TD and delegates will also hear from the Data Protection Commissioner, Billy Hawkes and the Chair of the National Competitiveness Council, Dr. Don Thornhill. Other speakers include leading international industry experts from EMC, Cisco, VMware and Accenture as well as a leading IT lawyer from MOP.

The conference, which is sponsored by EMC, CISCO, VMware, and MOP will examine the potential role that Cloud Computing and innovative IT technology can make in the delivery of public services in a practical, targeted and focused way.

• What is Cloud Computing?

• What is the potential for CloudComputing in Ireland?

• What role can CloudComputing play for the publicsector?

• Can Cloud Computing addressissues about confidentiality andsecurity?

• Can Cloud Computing help todeliver connected government?

• How has Cloud Computingbenefited organisations thatuse it?

• Does Cloud Computingrepresent value for money?

Sponsored by

A Public Affairs Ireland Conference

Cloud Computing and Ireland - unleashing the potential!A special Public Affairs Ireland conference on the potential for Cloud Computing in Ireland and the opportunities it provides for the public sector

ThursdAy 30Th June 2011 ConrAd hoTel dublInsPonsored by eMC/CIsCo/MoP/VMwAre