Open letter to Irish Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin T.D.
Representatives of Irish Civil Society who have engaged in the Open Government Partnership (OGP) process have written this open letter to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin T.D. We are seeking a meeting with him to clarify the future of the OGP process in Ireland. The letter is signed by 38 members of Irish civil society.
In the context of OGP, Civil Society needs productive meetings that can lead to useful outcomes and clarity of communication between the partners is vital for a constructive outcome. We are seeking clear information as to the Government’s intentions for the OGP process, with the following in mind:
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An important part of Ireland’s ambitionAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, OGP commitments should “stretch government practice beyond its current baseline with respect to key areas of open government.” Ambition captures the po... to formally join the OGP is to open up the process for civil society participation.
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Our goal is to open up policy making to the wider public, to raise awareness and allow civil society to influence and take part in generating a plan for Ireland’s participation in the OGP.
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We are offering the government our input, expertise and participation and we see this as an opportunity to co-determine the success of open government practices here in Ireland.
- We have identified ways in which the Irish government, public agencies and industries can become more open, benefiting everybody in Ireland and we see this meeting with Minister Howlin as a means of sharing, collaborating, and voicing ideas, issues and concerns, in the spirit of partnership which OGP promotes.