Election 2024

Parties propose significant reform of public administration with new departments and agencies

Fianna Fáil proposes Ireland’s first national security and intelligence agency, while Fine Gael wants all projects worth more than €100m to be overseen by new Department of Infrastructure

FILE GARDA STOCK 12/07/19 Bray Garda Station… Pic Stephen Collins/Collins Photos
At present An Garda Síochána is responsible for national security. Dr Edward Burke said other similar-sized European countries tended to have separate intelligence services
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Martin Wall
Mon Nov 18 2024 - 20:00

The establishment of Ireland’s first national security and intelligence agency, a new Department of infrastructure to oversee “mega-projects” as well as the appointment of a full Minister for Disabilities and a Minister of State for Loneliness are among the reforms to public administration proposed by political parties.

General elections can herald significant changes to government structures, with departments being merged, responsibilities being swapped and new agencies and organisations established.

One of the biggest examples of such a shake-up would come under Fine Gael proposals to consolidate infrastructural policy, regulation and key delivery agencies under a new Department of Infrastructure by merging the existing areas of Energy, Climate, Transport and the Office of Public Works.

Another eye-catching reform proposal was set out by Fianna Fáil for the establishment of a Department of Domestic Affairs which would have a separate national security and intelligence agency. It said the new department would “be responsible for key elements of national security, including counterterrorism (both internal and external threats), the Offences Against the State Act, cybersecurity and migration issues”.

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Edward Burke, assistant professor in the History of War since 1945 at UCD, described the proposal for a national security and intelligence agency as “seismic”. However, he suggested that initially there should be a review of existing national security arrangements.

“Before you would ever think of creating a service you would have to do a wide-ranging review of what is currently there in terms of threats and capabilities.

“I think as a State we need to inform ourselves of the threat that we face; the existing structures and potentially ways to improve those structures and resource the various services. And if during that review it is recognised that a separate service distinct from An Garda Síochána would do a better job in facing those threats then that is something we should opt for.”

Dr Burke said at present An Garda Síochána was responsible for national security. He said other similar-sized European countries tended to have separate intelligence services.

“What is unique in Ireland is that we ask in terms of the command structure a single Garda assistant commissioner to be in charge of both serious crime and intelligence and security. That is unusual in Europe (although) there are in some European countries intelligence services that have very close links to the police and the intelligence component of the national police service.”

The proposed Department of Infrastructure is the big Fine Gael reform idea. The party proposes a Minister for Infrastructure, Climate and Transport who would oversee the delivery of the National Development Plan, manage all projects above €100 million, and play a crucial role in project prioritisation and selection.

Taoiseach Simon Harris first proposed a Department of Infrastructure during the summer. However, the idea was not entirely new. In 2017 the National Economic and Social Council (NESC), which advises the government on policy, and a “public investment management assessment” (Pima) carried out by the International Monetary Fund essentially suggested such a body but critically not a stand-alone government department but rather a unit inside the existing Department of Public Expenditure.

Prof Eoin Reeves, an expert on infrastructure development at the department of economics at the University of Limerick, welcomed the debate on the Taoiseach’s proposal, but had concerns about the workability of the proposal. “We have bodies and agencies responsible for infrastructure at all sorts of levels of government and in local government. I am not sure how that would all be rolled into one department.”

Other parties also have reform proposals. The Green Party called for the merger of the Department of Education and the Department of Higher Education. It proposed there should be a Minister with sole responsibility for transport, and suggested there should be a Minister of State for Wellbeing, Mental Health and Loneliness.

The Social Democrats urged that there should be a full Minister for Disability.

Sinn Féin said it would establish a new Immigration Management Agency, while the Green Party has proposed a dedicated Asylum and Integration Agency.