THE ROW: A streamlining plan upsets agencies

Ireland’s plethora of non-commercial agencies, sneeringly referred to as quangos, or quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations, are on the government’s chopping block. The Department of Finance has told the Department of Justice it should consider amalgamating at least five quangos under its remit. Going to the great quangocracy in the sky would be the National Disability Authority, the Equality Authority, the Equality Tribunal, the Human Rights Commission and the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner. Opposition parties and the agencies argue that ministers will not generate sufficient savings to justify the measures, and that it is unfair to target bodies that represent the most vulnerable.

THE ISSUE: One quango for every 5,000 people

The government argues that the recent explosion of quangos is a burden on public finances, especially as many agencies duplicate the work of others. While nobody officially knows how many quangos there are, Brian Lenihan, the minister for finance, says the number of their employees has grown by more than 60% to 17,000 since 2000. A 2006 survey by Tasc, a think tank, found that the country has 832 such entities, with a combined annual budget of €13 billion. The OECD said last April that we have a quango for every 5,000 people. The government hopes to save at least €20m next year by reducing the number of such agencies.

THE REAL ISSUE: Quangos waste public money

As the memory of Ireland’s economic miracle fades, the quango system has come under increasing criticism for being bloated, wasteful and for producing little more than reports and jargon. Last week’s annual report by the Combat Poverty Agency hardly made a strong case for its continuation. “We have completed guidelines to assist local authorities to undertake local poverty impact assessments, and are also working with other state bodies . . . to progress specific anti-poverty initiatives,” it said. Brian Cowen, the taoiseach, appeared to describe the National Consumer Agency as “a bunch of f*****s” in an aside in the Dail. Celia Larkin, Bertie Ahern’s ex-girlfriend, received €34,000 in two years for her role as a “volunteer”on the agency’s board.

THE BIGGER PICTURE: Ministers won’t look good

Few would mourn the loss of the National Salmon Commission, but dropping agencies that provide a voice for vulnerable citizens will hardly portray a struggling government in a better light. The Human Rights Commission (HRC) has highlighted the use of Shannon airport by the US military, and ill-treatment of immigrants. Joan Burton, Labour’s finance spokeswoman, has questioned why such quangos are being targeted. Maurice Manning, a former Fine Gael TD who presides over the HRC, said he had an open mind about a merger but doubted it would lead to big savings. Richard Bruton, Fine Gael’s finance spokesman, said the government needed to make a business case for each agency rather than the “let’s make a list, lads, approach”.

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