Government Secretariat
The Government Secretariat
- advises the Taoiseach on the co-ordination and handling of Government business for each meeting of the Government
- provides support to Cabinet Committees and other Committees meeting under the aegis of the Division
- provides advice and briefing to the Taoiseach and Government as appropriate on constitutional and statutory functions performed by or involving the President
- exercises functions under the Ethics in Public Office Act insofar as officeholders are concerned
- provides a central support for the Department in receipt, distribution and progression of Dáil Questions addressed to the Taoiseach.
The role of the Government Secretariat is to co-ordinate the business of Government including the preparation of the agenda, the circulation of papers and the communication of decisions. Operating on the basis of the written procedures set down in the Cabinet Handbook , the Government Secretariat plays a vital role in ensuring the communication and co-ordination required for Government business.
The central mechanism in this process is through Memoranda for Government which are prepared by the sponsoring Department. The Memorandum to Government is the central policy co-ordination mechanism, requiring as it does Departments to consult with other interested Departments well in advance of Government consideration and to include in the Memorandum their views and a response. Thus, in considering an issue the Government will have the benefit of prior consultation and discussion at Departmental level which allows the Government to concentrate on the key strategic issues requiring decision.
Following consideration of the recommendations in the report prepared by Mr. Dermot Quigley in January 2005, additional Guidelines in relation to certain proposed consultancy contracts were agreed for incorporation in the Cabinet Handbook.
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