Ethics and Integrity in the Civil Service Presentation to Regional Hub of Civil Service Seminar...

Ethics and Integrity in the Civil Service

Presentation to Regional Hub of Civil Service Seminar

Astana, Kazakhstan October 2013

Legal Framework

•Official Secrets Act

• Ethics in Public Office Act

• Freedom of Information Act

•Compellability of Witnesses Act

• Public Service Management Acts

•Comptroller & Auditor General

• Public Accounts Committee

• Inter-Parliamentary Committees

Ethics in Public Office Act•All Ministers, senior public servants and Politicians

must provide disclosure of interests, including material interests which could influence them in the performance of their official duties.

•Declare any vested interest in relation to tenders and contracts

• Furnish evidence of tax compliance

Parliamentary scrutiny

•Public Accounts Committee

•Comptroller & Auditor General

•Value for Money

•Accounting for Voted expenditure

•Joint Parliamentary Committees

Accounting Officer Role

•All Secretaries General and Heads of Office hold the title of Accounting Officer

•Responsible for administration of Voted expenditure

•Responsible for Internal Financial controls

•Responsible for Formal Risk Management

Corporate Governance

•Heads of Office must establish an Audit Committee

• Chaired by person outside the Office and with a number of external members

• Committee conducts audits both financial and non-financial including value for money audits.

• Audit reports and annual reports are made available to Head of Office and to Comptroller & Auditor General

Public Service Recruitment

Public Service Recruitment

•All positions are filled by open competitive process in a fair and impartial manner

•Public Appointments Service is the independent centralised recruitment organisation

• Interference in the recruitment process is illegal under the Public Service Management (Recruitment & Selection) Act and carries a fine or imprisonment if convicted.

Government Contracts

Government Contracts•Centrally published on “e-Tenders” web site

•All public service tenders must go through this process

•Central management and control of procurement by Office of Public Works – value for money, economies of scale, etc.

•All contract documentation and payments are audited by the Comptroller &Auditor General.

Leadership is critical in fostering integrity

Key competency for Senior Civil ServantsExemplifies Public Service Values:•Serving the Government & people of Ireland

•Acting at all times with integrity

•Treating others with respect

•Being responsible for own actions

•Operating with professionalism and probity

Leadership• Leaders must become role models and be above

reproach

•Stand up for what they believe

• Intervene when fraud is suspected and take appropriate action

“Contagious integrity”

Thank You

Bryan AndrewsBA & Associates

E: bjjandrews@gmail.comT: +353 87 634 9014