Speech by Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform,
Mr Brendan Howlin T.D.
Civil Service Excellence and Innovation Awards
Dublin Castle, 3 December 2015

Taoiseach
Members of the Selection Panel
Ladies and Gentlemen

Today is a very proud day for the Civil Service and I am delighted to be involved in the ceremony and to join with the Taoiseach today.

I and my Government colleagues hold the Civil Service in the highest regard as we see the hard work and commitment of civil servants every day.
We are not the only people to recognise the calibre of civil servants that we have, colleagues at EU and international level have also commended our public administration. Sometimes however this is not recognised as often as it should publicly but today’s ceremony highlights the excellence that is evident right across the work of the Civil Service.

We have the opportunity to meet at the awards today because of the Civil Service Renewal Plan. The Plan provides a strategy for the development of the Civil Service and outlines a set of actions to support higher performance both for staff and for civil service organisations.

It is a hugely positive strategy that is guiding change and reform in the sector and it puts civil servants at the heart of a vision to provide a world-class service to the state and to the people of Ireland.

Significant progress is being made on the renewal programme and its ambitious agenda.
We are making headway in transforming the Civil Service by creating a more unified, professional, responsive, open and accountable organisation. I know that civil servants have embraced the Plan, particularly the Civil Service Management Board who have already initiated 24 of the 25 projects. And there is a real desire to keep engaging with staff so that you have the chance to contribute to developing and improving how the Civil Service works.

We all have a vested interest in ensuring that the work of the Civil Service is successful – the public, the Government, the Oireachtas and civil servants themselves.

I think people will look on the quality of the award nominations and reflect on the huge contribution that the Civil Service is making to the country. The last number of years has been not without their challenges and the work of civil servants has been of critical importance to navigating those difficult times. We are now emerging with confidence and again the Civil Service has a critical role to play.
I wish to congratulate the award winners and all of the teams shortlisted and nominated. I encourage you to share your experience with colleagues so they can apply the learning to their own initiatives and work programmes. I wish you every success in the future and thank you for participating in this Awards ceremony.
ENDs