Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan has initiated debate on an uncomfortable truth by describing the establishment of a plethora of State agencies and bodies as an abdication of responsibility by his Government colleagues. It is bad enough that Ministers should avoid political accountability by devolving power to these single-purpose agencies. But it is intolerable that neither the Dáil nor the ombudsman has the power to intervene on behalf of aggrieved citizens and hold such bodies responsible for their actions.
Hundreds of agencies have been established during the past ten years under governments led by Bertie Ahern, the Health Service Executive being the most important and high-profile recent example. The Road Safety Authority has the thankless task of sorting out the provisional driving licence mess left by the minister for transport. And other single-purpose agencies are struggling to cope. That is not to say they should all be abolished. Some are absolutely necessary and are performing vital administrative tasks. Others have been established in order to deflect political responsibility away from Ministers. Most are doing their best with inadequate resources. A review is, however, required. Decision-making processes should be opened to public scrutiny.
Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly has emphasised the absence of accountability and transparency in a number of recent reports and has called for a change in the law to permit her office to examine the decisions and activities of such agencies. She has the backing of the Constitution Review Group which recommended that the ombudsman should have the same powers in relation to administration by State bodies as the Comptroller and Auditor General has in relation to public spending. So far, her requests have fallen on deaf ears. Representations made concerning the Freedom of Information Act and the need to hold Ministers to account were also ignored.
Restoring and extending the Freedom of Information Act, as a weapon against corruption and mismanagement, was a Green Party priority before the election. Administrative transparency, customer services and the rebalancing of power between management and elected representatives at local government level are now being actively pursued. These matters are interconnected and require a change in mindset at Cabinet level if the necessary, comprehensive reform is to take place.
The Taoiseach has spoken of the need to encourage efficiency and value for money within the public service. If the aspiration is to mean anything to citizens, then more responsive administrative systems are required. That will not happen in the absence of accountability and transparency.
As a start, the Government should implement the various recommendations made by the ombudsman and the Standards in Public Office Commission. The Green Party, along with the Progressive Democrats, could lead the way.