Modernisation of key institutional structures within the public sector was needed to make the sector capable of meeting the challenges and opportunities that Ireland would face over the next decade. The council stressed the need to move on from the development process of the strategic management initiative (SMI), which is developing modern management practice in the public service, to a new stage of implementing new structures and approaches.
The report said the examination of the possible effects of demographic and social changes in Ireland in time to plan for these emerging needs were central to the new structures. According to the council, policy-makers needed to give more attention to the indirect but substantial benefits to Ireland from the development of the EU rather than from declining cash transfers.