MINISTER FOR Finance Brian Lenihan has appointed a former Canadian deputy finance minister as chairman of the independent review group to assess the performance of the Department of Finance over the past 10 years.
The group will also examine the department’s response to the current economic crisis, and make recommendations on how it should be organised to deal with the challenges of the future.
A report and recommendations are due in three months.
The chairman of the group is Rob Wright, a former Canadian deputy minister for finance, with 35 years of economic, policy and management experience in the public service of Canada. He served at the level of secretary general for over 20 years.
Hans Borstlap, a former Dutch civil servant, who was director general at the ministry of social affairs and employment in that country, and who also has experience at EU level, will also serve on the group.
He is currently a member of the Dutch Council of State and provides advice to the government on the annual budget in this role.
The third member of the review group is John Malone, former secretary general at the Department of Agriculture and Food.
The economist Pat McArdle will be providing assistance to the review group.
Mr Lenihan said in a statement that he wanted to thank the panel members for undertaking this important work. The terms of reference state that the independent review group will undertake a comprehensive evaluation of the systems, structures and processes of the Department of Finance relating to those elements of budgetary, economic, financial and public service management that are relevant to its role.
In this regard, the review will assess the department’s performance in the past 10 years, the appropriateness and quality of its advice, forecasts, risk analysis (including of non-consensual opinion) and communications strategy.
It will also examine the department’s management of responses to the current crisis.
The terms of reference added that the assessment should have regard to the policy, legal and institutional framework within which the department worked during this period.
Based on the conclusions and lessons drawn from this assessment, the group has been asked to make recommendations for the future development, structure and resourcing of the department.
The terms of reference added that in making its recommendations, the group will have regard to best practice regarding the organisational structures, skills, training, staff mix and levels required by a modern finance ministry.
This is sothat it can best fulfil its role in relation to: (i) economic and financial management; (ii) policy analysis, development, advice and implementation and; (iii) communication, transparency and accountability.
The views of interested parties and members of the public will be welcomed by the review group and can be sent to: review_at_finance.gov.ie.
