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09/04/2009
Assembly Structure To Be Reviewed
Stormont's First Minister and Deputy First Minister have revealed they are planning to bring plans for the creation of an 'Efficiency Review Panel' to the Assembly shortly after Easter.
Its key role will be to examine efficiency and value for money in institutions such as the Assembly and the departmental structure.
Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness said the review panel will look at whether the size of the Assembly or its number of Government departments should be slashed.
In a joint statement released today, Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness said the Executive was required under the Programme for Government to review the overall number of Government departments by 2011.
They said the first task will be to examine the number and organisation of departments "in light of the present financial pressures and the implications of the Review of Public Administration (RPA) and to ensure that the departmental structure is best organised to deliver public services in an efficient manner".
"The Review Panel will report later this year. The review will be on the basis of both fairness and efficiency, taking account of the requirement to protect the safeguards which ensure the Executive is representative of the community and can participate and work together successfully in the operation of the institutions," their statement said.
The OFMDFM statement said that the St Andrew's Agreement had made provision for the ministers to appoint an Efficiency Review Panel, "to examine efficiency and value for money of aspects of the Strand One institutions".
"The First Minister and Deputy First Minister would put to the Assembly for approval proposals for the panel's remit, which might include the size of the Assembly and the departmental structure.
"The panel's report would be considered by the Executive and Assembly, and, where agreed changes required legislative steps outside the scope of the devolved institutions, by the British Government in consultation as appropriate with the Irish Government."
(BMcC/JM)
Its key role will be to examine efficiency and value for money in institutions such as the Assembly and the departmental structure.
Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness said the review panel will look at whether the size of the Assembly or its number of Government departments should be slashed.
In a joint statement released today, Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness said the Executive was required under the Programme for Government to review the overall number of Government departments by 2011.
They said the first task will be to examine the number and organisation of departments "in light of the present financial pressures and the implications of the Review of Public Administration (RPA) and to ensure that the departmental structure is best organised to deliver public services in an efficient manner".
"The Review Panel will report later this year. The review will be on the basis of both fairness and efficiency, taking account of the requirement to protect the safeguards which ensure the Executive is representative of the community and can participate and work together successfully in the operation of the institutions," their statement said.
The OFMDFM statement said that the St Andrew's Agreement had made provision for the ministers to appoint an Efficiency Review Panel, "to examine efficiency and value for money of aspects of the Strand One institutions".
"The First Minister and Deputy First Minister would put to the Assembly for approval proposals for the panel's remit, which might include the size of the Assembly and the departmental structure.
"The panel's report would be considered by the Executive and Assembly, and, where agreed changes required legislative steps outside the scope of the devolved institutions, by the British Government in consultation as appropriate with the Irish Government."
(BMcC/JM)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Gale, coastal severe gale, northwest winds ease from late afternoon. Scattered showers will fall as snow over the hills at first, becoming isolated from mid-afternoon. Maximum temperature 7 °C.Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
