This Week in PER
Last Week
Second Stage of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015 (FEMPI) completed in the Dáil. Committee Stage is scheduled for 4 November.
On Friday last, Minister Howlin announced the appointment of members to the “Open Data Governance Board”. This Board will provide strategic vision and leadership for Ireland’s Open Data Initiative.
This Week
Minister Howlin and departmental officials are in Mexico this week attending the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Global Summit. The OGP Global Summit, the largest gathering of open government practitioners, takes place every 2 years. The Summit provides a unique opportunity to promote dialogue and collaboration between governments and civil society from 65 member countries. .
The OGP is a multilateral initiative that aims to secure concrete commitments from governments to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption, and harness new technologies to strengthen governance. Ireland became a member of the OGP in July 2014.
Minister Howlin has a full programme of meetings and events throughout the week. In addition to participating in a number of plenaries, breakout sessions and workshops at the Summit, the Minister will attend the Open Government Awards and will speak at a“Think Tank” Roundtable discussion on the Irish Taxation System. Minister Howlin will also hold bilateral meetings with the Mexican Minister of Finance and the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
The Minister will attend the exhibition of a tapestry telling the story of William Lamport’s life. This tapestry was made by students of Scoil Mhuire National School in Schull, West Cork and it will be on display in the Museo de la Cancillería in Mexico City.
The Government Meeting will take place on Wednesday at 3.15 p.m.
The Dáil and Seanad are not sitting this week.
The Secretary General and officials will travel to Helsinki this week to attend the OECD Public Governance Ministerial Meeting.

