PUBLIC AFFAIRS IRELAND NEWSLETTER Your essential weekly guide to legislative, regulatory and public affairs in Ireland Issue 249 October 19 2012

Next week in the

Statements will be heard in the Dáil next week following the European Council Meetings taking place this week while further talks on the economy will commence on Wednesday and Thursday. Amongst the items on the agenda in the Seanad next week include questions and answers on Junior Cert reform and the Literacy and Numeracy Strategy. Mr Frank Daly, Chairman and Mr Brendan McDonagh, Chief Executive Officer NAMA will attend the Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform Committee next week to provide an overview of operations and functioning of NAMA.

Brian Hayes TD Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform delivers opening address at the PAI Conference Public Procurement: eProcurement and eInvoicing

Opening his address, the Minister said that “transparent public procurement is critical to achieving more efficient allocation of resources through increased competition, and helping the government and taxpayers to realise budgetary savings” and in this regard, reform of public sector procurement “is central to the Government’s reform agenda”. The Government, he added, wants to make eProcurement “the rule rather than the exception”. The introduction and promotion of new eProcurement practices in line with international best practice will lead to: clearer transparency and visibility, reducing risks and driving compliance; audit trails, providing greater control over procurement, and the proactive management and measurement of procurement performance, according to the Minister. Taking account of the SME sector, he added, one government objective “is to encourage the From Right to Left: Vincent Campbell, Director, National Procurement Service, Office of Public Works; opportunities (SMEs) to tender for public sector Billy Noone, former official at the National Public Procurement Policy Unit (NPPPU), Department of Finance; Alain Deckers, Head of Unit, DG Internal Market C4 European Commission; Brian Hayes TD, contracts and an important element for government Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with Special Responsibility for the Office of Public Works; Edmund Gray, PEPPOL project technical lead in Ireland, IT Sligo; Padraig Harte, IT Continued on page 2 Sligo; and Don Bergin, Public Affairs Ireland

Lucinda Creighton elected Vice President of the European People’s Party

Minister for European Affairs, Lucinda Minister and candidates representing the Wilfried Martens, former Prime Minister of Creighton TD has been elected as Vice governing parties of Portugal, Sweden and Belgium, while the role of Secretary General President of the European People’s Party Poland. was won by Spainish politician and Member (EPP), the largest and most influential Speaking in Bucharest following her of the , Antonio Lopez- European-level political party. election Minister Creighton said: “This Isturiz. The announcement was made following result is great recognition for the work we José Manuel Barosso, President of the the EPP’s two day Congress in Bucharest, are doing. There is a really strong sense in European Commission, and Herman Van Romania on Thursday October 18. the EPP of support for Ireland on our road Rompuy, President of the European Council, Ms Creighton secured the first of ten to recovery. The position of Vice President will both serve alongside Minister Creighton positions and fought off strong competition presents a great opportunity to influence the as ex-officio Vice Presidents of the EPP. from other candidates including three EU biggest European party at the top level”. Commissioners, a German Government The newly elected President of the EPP is

Public Affairs Tel: 01 8198500 Ireland Fax: 01 8944733 25 Mountjoy E: [email protected] Square East www.publicaffairsireland.com 1 twitter.com/publicaffairsir in the roll out of eProcurement is to ensure that of invoicing by 2020 in Europe. Realising this governance. The technical lead for the Irish any technology solution links up with suppliers vision requires careful planning, and not just a pilot project was Edmund Gray, from Sligo to the procurement system”. He added: “In technological solution, but also organisational IT, who also spoke at the conference. The arriving at a solution, the Irish Government and legal solutions that advantage and not seven Service Providers that took part in the is working with other EU Member States disadvantage the private sector.” Pilot Project signed a Governance agreement, so that, for the SME sector, the solutions At the beginning of 2012, the Minister which assured interoperability between the provide opportunities for them to access wider “prioritised resources for the National service providers. markets, as well as driving cost savings to Procurement Service to conduct a Pilot Project This project, according to Minister Hayes, their business with government.” on eInvoicing and one that would investigate “has proven that suppliers can send invoices Outlining some achievements to date, the the use of PEPPOL (Pan-European Public electronically to Government agencies Minister mentioned the national portal, e- Procurement Online), a European Commission irrespective of the formats used by the Tenders, an initiative that has proven “very initiative to provide an infrastructure to facilitate Government Agency or the supplier.” successful”. He also announced his intention cross border commerce including eInvoicing. In conclusion, Minister Hayes said that to shortly officially announce details of an He also established a National eInvoicing “sometimes something that sounds simple, upgrade to this portal. Forum to inform the pilot, and, inform the roll such as receiving an invoice electronically, E-invoicing, the Minister said, is a “flagship out of eInvoicing for the public sector. Ireland can, when you explore the issues involved, initiative for this Government and we are one of is also a key contributor to the EU National become very complex”. However, “by adopting the lead countries piloting electronic invoicing Stakeholder Forum on eInvoicing. The pilot the PEPPOL infrastructure as a means of across the European Union”. The Government aimed to adopt eInvoicing for the public sector transport for eInvoices into the public sector “shares the Commission’s desire to see using an open, competitive and transparent we are providing a solution that benefits eInvoicing become the predominant method infrastructure which included proper private and public sector alike.”

Public Affairs Ireland Professional Development Presents

Ireland’s Presidency of the EU 2013

Special Half-Day Seminar, Friday November 9 2012, 9am to 1.30pm

Topics Include: On January 1 2013, Ireland will undertake the 6-month Presidency of the European Council for the seventh time, coinciding with the 40th Anniversary of Ireland’s accession to the EU. Cyprus will assume the Presidency immediately preceding us with Lithuania Key policy issues assuming the Presidency directly after us.

Liaison and coordination Public Affairs Ireland is organising a tailored, focused and practical seminar that will demands internally and address the main policy, institutional and logistical challenges that will arise. This externally seminar is taking place less than two months before the start of the Presidency, offering a final opportunity to evaluate the preparations currently in place to meet the expected The distinction between challenges. Ireland as President and Ireland as Member State The forthcoming Presidency will be crucial in demonstrating Ireland’s ability to manage the agenda of the EU in light of the current difficult times, and in the context of a newly Communication revived debate on the future of Europe. Therefore, it is essential that our term in office requirements nationally is well-designed and effectively executed. But what will the Presidency mean for those and at EU level working in the various government departments and agencies in addition to non-public- service bodies that have close EU involvement? Resource requirements, including staffing A smooth transition from the current Cypriot Presidency to the next Presidency ‘trio’ provision, at a time (Ireland, Lithuania and Greece), whose 18-month work programme is being prepared of national Budget with Irish inputs, is in the pipeline but it is now time to take stock and put the finishing constraints touches to our contribution to the contingency programme.

Please click here for more information or call us on 01 819 8500. Oireachtas Schedule: Week beginning October 22 Dáil Seanad October 23 October24 October 25 October 23 October 24 October 25 Business 10.30am 2.30pm 10.30am 10.30am 2pm 10.30am Leaders Questions Order of Business Order of Business Order of Business 9pm Questions (Minister Leaders Questions Statementsfor the Environment, on the Economy (resumed) (Department of Finance) 10.51am 3.45pm 11.45am 11.45am Community and Local 10.51am Order of Business Health Service Executive Statements post European Council Government) Order of Business Statements post Statements and Questions (Governance) Bill 2012 Meeting – 18/19 October, 2012 Motion re: Houses of the European Council and Answers on Junior Cert - Report Stage [Minister of State for European 3.15pm Oireachtas Commission Meeting (to conclude Reform and the Literacy and [Minister for Health] Affairs] Leaders Questions Funding (without debate) in 85 minutes if not Numeracy Strategy [Minister Statements on the previously concluded) for Education] 3.36pm Economy (resumed) 4.30pm Statements on the Private Members Business Questions () (to conclude at 4.30 Economy (Department of [Labour Senators] pm if not previously Finance) 4.36pm concluded) (Department Order of Business of Finance) 6.30pm 1.30pm Motion regarding the SOS Smithwick Tribunal 5.06pm 4.30pm (Amendment to terms of Topical Issues Topical Issues Ombudsman 2.30pm reference - to conclude within Questions (Minister for 25 minutes) [Minister forJustice (Amendment) Bill 2008 5.18pm Justice and Equality) and Equality] Amendments from the Questions (Minister

Seanad (Department of for Children and Youth Public Expenditure and 3.45pm Affairs) 7pm Reform) Topical Issues Statements on Social Europol Bill 2012 Protection (Resumed) [Minister 4.33pm for Social Protection] Second Stage (resumed) (Department of Justice Morning business and Equality) continued

7.05pm 7.30pm Private Members Motion re: Smithwick Business Tribunal (to conclude in 25 minutes if not previously concluded) (Department of Justice and Equality)

7.30pm Private Members

Committee Meetings October 23 October 24 October 25 1.30pm 9.30am 9.30am Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Transport and Communications Committee Room 2, Leinster House Committee Room 4, Leinster House Health and Children Committee Room 2, Leinster House AGENDA: AGENDA: AGENDA: Proposals for Enterprise Ireland’s (EI)’s new Micro Enterprise and Small Business Unit, (i) The Health Insurance Sector in Ireland [Health Insurance Authority]; and with specific reference to how it EI will liaise 10am (ii) Risk Equalisation, Universal Healthcare and the Health with the Local Authorities to replace the Education and Social Protection Insurance Sector [VHI Healthcare; Aviva Health Insurance; County Enterprise Boards (CEB)s functions Committee Room 3, Leinster House Laya Healthcare; amd Glo Health] and assist small Irish exporting companies AGENDA: Session 1 (i) Education and Training Boards Bill 2012 [Teachers’ Union Of Ireland (TUI); (i) [Representatives from Enterprise Ireland] National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA); and Irish Vocational Education Association 10am Session 2 (IVEA)]; and Agriculture, Food and the Marine Committee Room 4, Leinster House (ii) [Representatives from the Irish Small and (ii) Engagement with Mr John Monahan, Chairman Designate, Grangegorman Medium Enterprises Association (ISME); and Development Agency AGENDA: 2013 Allocation for public expenditure - Agriculture, Food Small Firms Association (SFA)] and the Marine [Minister for Agriculture, Food and the 11am Marine] 2pm Justice, Defence and Equality Public Accounts Committee Room 2, Leinster House 10am Committee Room 1, Leinster House AGENDA: AGENDA: Civil Defence Board -Its role today and future plans Public Accounts (i) Review of political allowances Committee Room 1, Leinster House AGENDA: [Department of Public Expenditure and 11am 2011 Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Reform; and Houses of the Oireachtas Public Accounts Auditor General Vote 19: Justice and Equality – Review of Commission]; and Committee Room 1, Leinster House allowances (ii) 4pm - Review of civil service AGENDA: allowances [Department of Public 2011 Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General Vote 26: Expenditure and Reform] Education and Skills – Review of allowances. 2pm European Union Affairs Committee Room 2, Leinster House 2pm 2pm AGENDA: Agriculture, Food and the Marine Penal Reform (Sub-Committee of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence Private Meeting Committee Room 3, Leinster House and Equality) AGENDA: Committee Room 2, Leinster House (i) Scrutiny of EU legislative proposals and AGENDA: (ii) Farm Management IT Systems Submissions on Penal Reform [Representatives from Teagasc and ICBF] 2pm 2.15pm Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht Committee Room 4, Leinster House Committee Room 4, Leinster House AGENDA: AGENDA: Overview of operations and functioning of NAMA (i) Towards a New National Climate Policy: Interim Report of the NESC Secretariat [Dr 2.30pm Rory O’Donnell, Director, National Economic Foreign Affairs and Trade and Social Council]; and Committee Room 3, Leinster House (ii) Comprehensive Action Programme for AGENDA: the Reform of Local Government - Putting Promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in international People First development Education & Training Public Affairs Ireland provides a range of training courses and seminars on public affairs and regulatory matters. Both our training courses and seminars are taught by leading experts in each relevant discipline, who bring a sharp practical focus to our events. Please click here for a schedule of our Autumn/Winter 2012 events, or call us on 01 819 8500 for more information.