Review National and International Practice to Develop Revised Principles / Code for Public Engagement/Consultation with Citizens, Civil Society and Others by Public Bodies. (IE0009)

This action allows for a thorough review of the guidelines and principles for consultation and engagement with the public in relation to policy development and decision making. It is intended that proposals would be developed to foster greater citizen involvement and participation. In seeking to develop updated and improved regulations, principles and procedures on public consultation, best international practice as set out by the OECD and the Council of Europe would be taken into account. Areas for examination could include knowledge sharing on best practice, how engagement can be facilitated through the use of technology including, but not limited to, Open Data and social media, and measures for the monitoring and conduct of public consultation.

2.1: Revise Government Principles on Consultation Processes

Commitment Text:

Action 2.1-  Review national and international practice to develop revised principles/ code for public engagement/consultation with citizens, civil society and others by public bodies.

This action allows for a thorough review of the guidelines and principles for consultation and engagement with the public in relation to policy development and decision making. It is intended that proposals would be developed to foster greater citizen involvement and participation. In seeking to develop updated and improved regulations, principles and procedures on public consultation, best international practice as set out by the OECD and the Council of Europe would be taken into account. Areas for examination could include knowledge sharing on best practice, how engagement can be facilitated through the use of technology including, but not limited to, Open Data and social media, and measures for the monitoring and conduct of public consultation.

Responsible institution: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER)

Supporting institution(s): All public bodies involved in the delivery of the committments

Start date: 1 August 2014                                                                  End date: 30 December 2015

Commitment Aim

This commitment seeks to review both national and international citizen participation practices to improve the procedures for consultations with stakeholders and citizens when public policy is made. The expectation was that clearer guidelines for consultation would help improve the ability for citizens to add input in public policy, thereby increasing participation and transparency in government. The principles and procedures for consultation were expected to serve as a guideline and to inform engagement by government departments and all public bodies to allow for greater citizen influence in areas where policy is made.

Status

Midterm: Substantial

After the action plan was adopted, Action 2.1 set the basis for a complete review of guidelines and principles for consultation processes. The review also made suggestions on how to better engage with citizens during said process by constructing a central repository for all public consultations, which will automatically notify citizens about consultations in areas where they have a registered interest. The “Draft Consultation Principles/Guidance for Public Consultations” was subsequently published in year one of action plan in July 2015.^{[Note 22: On the Draft Document, see bit.ly/1RZQxGe (link to Guidelines, top of page). ]}

End of term: Complete

As reported by the government in its end of term self assessment report, in year two of the action plan a public consultation process of the draft guidance document was held in October 2015. The public consultation was open to all and received several submissions over a period of 10 weeks. The government, in turn, considered these submissions in finalizing the document. The government approved the updated consultation document in September 2016 and published it in November 2016 (full details can be found in this footnote).^{[Note 23: See: http://www.per.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/Consultation-Principles-Guidance.pdf ]} Examples of principles established to ministries include targeted consultation with those with a clear interest in the policy, and ensuring that consultation takes place with all stakeholders in the different stages of the policy-making process from formulation to implementation. The delay from the original expected completion date originated in the forming of a new government after the general elections earlier in the year. The action can therefore be deemed completed.

Did it open government?

Access to information: Did not change

Civic participation: Did not change

Public participation: Did not change

This action addressed the need to develop guidlelines on public consultation, absent from extant regulations. The action’s potential impact was expected to be moderate. Even though the guidelines developed may serve as a foundation for all departments and public bodies to better implement a consultation strategy when public policy is made in their respective policy area, it remains limited in scope because each must still independently roll out all the guidelines. In other words, each ministry/body can do what they want, given the absence of a strong, centralized policy requiring them to pursue consultation within a specified time period. As the guidelines have yet to be adopted given delays in forming government (see above section), at this stage the status quo remains.

Carried forward?

This commitment was not carried forward into the next action plan.