Sir, – The characterisation in your editorial (January 7th) that political and administrative reform comes "dropping slow in this State" does not stand up to any objective scrutiny and is surprising in a week in which Frances Ruane wrote in your opinion pages on the scale of administrative reform of recent years and the need for it to continue ("Public sector reform must continue", January 4th). That is a view I share wholeheartedly.
Indeed, your assessment falls into the pitfall of conflating proposals for Oireachtas reform – to which the Taoiseach’s announcement and which ultimately will be a matter for those elected as members of the Oireachtas this spring – with a series of wide-ranging and far-reaching reforms I have put in place to strengthen the framework for effective public governance and improved public administration.
The Institute of Public Administration's research paper Public Sector Trends 2015, published in December, demonstrates the substantial progress in these areas, drawing on a range of comparative international indicators.
As frequently highlighted by some commentators, one area where Ireland has performed less well in recent years is in respect of the level of trust in government. Reflecting, in part, the very comprehensive programme of reform that I have implemented as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in this area since 2011, this key measure is now showing an improvement.
Specific initiatives that are contributing in this area include the introduction of comprehensive whistleblower protection legislation that sets new standards internationally; the reform and restoration of Freedom of Information, including the abolition of application fees for FOI requests; the establishment of a register of lobbying that will be published for the first time this month; the new system of appointments to State boards, stateboards.ie; the setting up of a Civil Service Accountability Board, as well as the publication for the first time of the responsibilities of all senior civil servants (whodoeswhat.gov.ie), on foot of the report of an independent panel on Civil Service accountability chaired by Prof Kevin Rafter of DCU; the establishment of a Civil Service management board and the development of a corporate governance standard for government departments under the Civil Service renewal plan; and the recent publication of the Public Sector Standards Bill.
The foregoing, and indeed other reforms, are aimed entirely to deliver the “greater transparency and accountability” required for effective administration that you advocate.
I believe the major progress achieved should have been acknowledged in your analysis. – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN HOWLIN TD,
Minister for Public
Expenditure and Reform,
Merrion Street,
Dublin 2.