May Taoiseach provides keynote at University of Galway ‘Public Engagement for Better Policy’ seminar

University of Galway today hosted a seminar bringing together policy makers and senior officials from across the civil and public service to explore how the public can be involved in shaping policy in Ireland.

Hosted by the University’s Institute for Lifecourse and Society, the seminar titled ‘Public Engagement for Better Policy’ included the launch of new Policy Handbook: A ‘real world’ guide to policy development.

Profiling a selection of existing practices, the seminar critically assessed the contribution of public engagement in policy, with the goal of ensuring that our policies enable mutual recognition and support between and within society’s generations.

It also reflected on the role of higher education in supporting public engagement processes, as part of its evidence-to-policy mission.

Among those attending were senior officials from across the civil and public service, civil society leaders and academics to debate the current status and future potential of public engagement for policy in Ireland, and how institutions might best respond to enhanced participation.

Themes addressed during the seminar included: Putting the Public into Public Policy: Engaging for Better Decision Making; Codesigning Pathways to a Carbon Neutral Ireland: Putting Democratic Legitimacy at the Heart of Climate Policy; and The Impact of Public Engagement on Irish Health Policy and Health Service Reform.

Professor John Canavan, Director of the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre, University of Galway, said: “One of the goals of the Institute for Lifecourse and Society at University of Galway is to provide leadership in connecting higher education to civil and public services towards better and more equitable outcomes for citizens. We are very proud to partner with the Department of An Taoiseach in delivering this event.

“This seminar is asking the question about the why’ and how’s of involving the public in shaping policy - from formulation, through implementation, to evaluation and review. It will explore the various forms of citizen-engagement in policy to determine its value and how best to do it. The event will also consider the relevance of public engagement in the context of competing demands on the public purse.”

Participants in the event included: Elizabeth Canavan, Assistant Secretary General for Social Policy and Public Service Reform Division at Department of the Taoiseach; Oonagh Buckley, Secretary General at the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications; Muiris O'Connor, Assistant Secretary of R&D and Health Analytics Division at the Department of Health; Orla Lynch, Strategic Policy Advisor at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science; Dr Fergal Lynch, Chair of the National Council for Special Education; Niamh Garvey, Senior Policy Analyst from the National Economic and Social Council; Paddy Mahon, Chairman of Local Government Management Agency; Tania Banotti, Director of the whole of government Creative Ireland Programme; Dr Naomi Feely, Policy Director, Children's Rights Alliance; Joe Ryan, National Director of Public Involvement, Culture and Risk Management at the HSE; Avril Kennan, CEO of Health Research Charities Ireland; Sally Washington, Practice Fellow (Policy Capability and Public Management) from Australia and New Zealand School of Government.

To read the Policy Handbook in full visit: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-the-taoiseach/campaigns/policy-handbook-a-real-world-guide-to-policy-development/

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