Appendix B: Glossary

Bottleneck

A point of congestion in the policy development process that creates a backlog, slowing or stopping further progress.

Budgetary assessments

An assessment of the financial resources/allocation of funding that a policy requires while it is being implemented. This assessment should account for further maintenance costs post implementation.

Cabinet

The decision-making body composed of senior ministers from government departments, led by the Taoiseach.

Causal links

Claims that assert a cause-and-effect relationship between two or more variables, such as exercise leads to improved health.

Central Statistics Office (CSO)

Ireland’s national statistical office whose purpose is to impartially collect, analyse, and make available statistics about Ireland’s people, society and economy.

Civil Service Management Board (CSMB)

A leadership body for the Civil Service composed of all Secretaries General and Heads of Offices that typically meet monthly to discuss cross-departmental issues.

Cost-benefit analysis

A process used to measure the benefits of a decision or action, minus the costs associated with taking that action, using measurable financial metrics, for instance, revenue earned, costs saved.

Data collection

Data collection is the process of gathering and measuring information on specific variables, usually for further analysis.

Data point

A single piece of information or value that represents a factor, for example if you are collecting data about the average age of a group of people, each individual person’s age would be a separate data point.

Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI)

An independent research organisation that conducts research and analysis on economic and social issues in Ireland.

European Central Bank (ECB)

The central bank of European Union Member States that use the euro. Its main role is to maintain price stability, primarily through the control of inflation and the issuing of bank notes.

European Commission

The executive branch of the European Union that is responsible for proposing EU legislation, implementing EU decisions, and managing its day-to-day affairs.

Focus groups

A useful information-gathering exercise where a small group of individual stakeholders discuss their opinions and experiences with officials or researchers during the policy development process.

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

This is an international financial institution that works to achieve sustainable economic growth of its members by supporting economic policies that promote international monetary cooperation and trade.

Irish Water

Irish Water is the former name for Uisce Éireann which is Ireland’s national regulated water utility.

Legislators

These are members of either House of the Oireachtas, the Dáil or the Seanad. Members of the Dáil are called Deputies or Teachtaí Dála while members of the Seanad are called Senators or Seanadóirí.

Lobby groups

Sometimes called “advocacy” or “interest groups”.

These are organised groups of individuals or entities that aim to influence government policy on specific issues. Lobbying is a regulated activity that must meet the criteria set out in the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015.

Local authorities (or local government)

These are typically County or City Councils that are composed of elected Councillors. The Councils are responsible for services in areas such as housing, roads, libraries, and others. Local authorities are overseen by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Longitudinal study

A type of study that involves repeated observations of the same variables over long periods of time, for example tracking the academic performance of the same group of students over several years.

Ministerial briefing paper

A document which concisely explains a policy problem, and proposed solution, to the Minister. It can include a request for the Minister to sign-off on a policy decision.

Non-governmental organisation (NGO)

A non-profit organisation that operates independently of government. Their work usually addresses a social or political issue.

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

An international organisation that promotes economic development and cooperation among member states through research, policy recommendations, and providing a platform to discuss global issues.

Outputs

The concrete products or services that are delivered when an activity or set of activities are completed. For example, the delivery of a media communication campaign, the enactment of legislation or the expansion of school meals services to new schools.

Policy gap

Policy gaps are typically the mismatch between the expectations of what a policy will achieve and what’s actually achieved by the policy.

Policy objective

The goal of a policy that clearly sets out what the policy is aiming to achieve and what its outcomes are.

Policy official

A public servant who is responsible for analysing, developing, providing advice about, and ultimately delivering on, a policy as decided by Cabinet. The role involves undertaking research, consulting with stakeholders, engaging with the public, and working with public bodies/agencies, amongst many other tasks.

Programme for Government (PfG)

A document that outlines what the government plans to achieve over its time in office, including policies in all societal areas (for example, economic, education, housing). It also outlines how the government will function.

Project management

The process of leading the work of a team to achieve all project goals within the given project constraints, for example, scope, time, budget, and so on.

Public confidence

The confidence, or trust, that the public has in government to act in their general interest and deliver on policy.

Public Spending Code

The set of rules and procedures that ensure that all Irish public bodies treat public funds with care and provide the best possible value for money when public money is spent or invested.

Revenue Commissioners

The government agency responsible for customs, excise and taxation in Ireland.

Risk assessment

A systematic process of identifying and evaluating possible mishaps or risks that can occur during the policy. development process or as a result of a policy.

SMART goals

An acronym for specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely (SMART) goals. Breaking down goals or targets into SMART goals is helpful as it increases the chances of achieving your goal.

Stakeholder

A person or group with an interest in a policy issue, are affected by it, or could have a passive or active role in developing and implementing the policy designed to remedy that issue.

Stakeholder engagement

Stakeholder engagement is the process by which an organisation involves stakeholders in the policy development and decision-making process. It involves active listening and communication with stakeholders throughout this process.

Statistical data

Data that has been collected and/or generated by statistical procedures and can be broken down into two categories, qualitative (like personal views on a topic) or quantitative (like age).

Steering committee

A steering committee is normally an advisory body that oversees a project and is composed of senior and experienced officials in that policy area. It should meet periodically to discuss the project and keep it on task. Key concerns for a steering committee include the direction, scope, budget and timeliness of a project.

Three-Pillar Framework

A framework based on data and evidence, feasibility and implementation, and legitimacy, that together provide a framework approach for good policy making. This approach can be applied at every stage of the policy making process.

Troika

A term used for the decision-making body composed of the European Commission (EC), the European Central Bank (ECB), and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Workforce planning/forecasting

Workforce planning / forecasting is the process by which an organisation analyses, forecasts, and plans their workforce supply and demand as well as other issues like gap assessment and talent management.