Partnership programme managers in the Reynolds/Spring coalition, 1993–4

This article examines an important innovation in Irish administration, the introduction of partnership programme managers under the Reynolds/Spring coalition which took office in January 1993. It discusses the system in operation, reviews the arguments for and against the use of permanent civil servants and of political appointees in the role, examines the different approaches of the Fianna Fail and the Labour parties to the selection and the role of programme managers, and speculates on the possibility that future governments will use such posts as a means both of increasing party influence on administration, and of supporting party officials out of the public purse. It considers the wider implications of the importation into central administration of ministerial appointees with clear party political affiliations, and it reflects on the possible impact of such officials on the apolitical ethos which has been one of the defining characteristics of the Irish civil service since independence

Administration (probate law · Civil servants · Civil service · Ethos · General partnership · Independence (probability theory · Irish · Political science · Politics · Public service · Sociology · Irish and British Studies · Law · Public Administration

• The Political Executive

  Shane Martins, Shane Martin•Oxford Handbook of Irish Politics•2021

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• Select bibliography of publications on Irish politics during 1997∗

  J Coakley, John Doyle•Irish Political Studies•1998

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• Trust Is Good, Control Is Better

  Open Access•Audrey André, Sam Depauw et al.•Political Research Quarterly•2016

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• Glorified Gofers, Policy Experts or Good Generalists

  Bernadette Connaughton•Irish Political Studies•2010

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• Punch Bags for Heavyweights? Minor Parties in Irish Government

  Eoin O’malley, Eoin O''Malley•Irish Political Studies•2010

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• Ministerial Selection in Ireland

  Eoin O’malley, Eoin O''Malley•Irish Political Studies•2006

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• Public policy accumulation in Ireland

  Open Access•Muiris Maccárthaigh, John Biggins et al.•Irish Political Studies•2023

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• The Ministers' Minders

  Robert M Dorn, James Walter•Political Psychology•1989

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• The politics of institutional reform in Ireland

  John Dunne•Irish Political Studies•1989

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• The 1992 general election in the republic of Ireland

  Paul Mitchell•Irish Political Studies•1993

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