Senior Management Group

Terms of Reference

1.  Purpose and Role of the Senior Management Group (SMG)

The Management Board (MB) acts as the primary decision making committee within the Central Statistics Office.  MB sets the vision and strategic direction for the organisation, taking into account, as far as possible, customer, staff and all other relevant stakeholder views. MB will ensure that appropriate governance structures and mechanisms are in place in the CSO.  MB may delegate decision making on specific subjects to individuals or groups within the CSO as necessary.

The Senior Management Group, comprising Senior Statisticians and Principal Officers, is an essential part of CSO governance and leadership. The assignment of responsibilities by the Director General for the performance of functions under Section 4(1) of the Public Service Management Act, 1997 requires Senior Statisticians and Principal Officers to participate effectively in the Senior Management Group (SMG) and to contribute to policy on corporate and strategic issues.

The SMG will contribute to corporate decision making through:

•             An ongoing programme of work 

•             Regular meetings involving MB 

•             Sub-groups, or other methods, producing inputs into MB decision making

•             Reviewing progress on CSO corporate and strategic issues

•             Providing a forum for the exchange of corporate information

SMG meetings provide a valuable opportunity for members to interact and communicate with their colleagues working in different locations, directorates and Government Departments.

2. Guiding Principles

Taking account of the CSO’s mandate “The collection, compilation, extraction and dissemination for statistical purposes of information relating to economic, social and general activities and conditions in the State” , and responsibility for development of the broader Irish Statistical System, the SMG will operate to the following guiding principles:

a)            The interests of CSO, and its staff, are paramount in the activities and discussions of the SMG;

b)            The SMG is committed to continuous development and innovation for the organisation;

c)            Issues will be discussed constructively, in a spirit of cooperation, trust and inclusiveness;

d)            SMG recommendations/proposals will be informed by evidence based evaluation and discussion.

3. Membership

The SMG membership will consist of the Senior Statisticians, Principal Officers and equivalent grades within the office; CSO staff at those grades on secondment to other departments, and any other person/grade/role considered appropriate for membership (eg head of statistical profession in a dept. who is not a CSO employee).

The Management Board will attend and fully participate in SMG meetings.

4. SMG meetings

There will be a minimum of four SMG meetings per year. Dates/venues will be proposed at the start of year to facilitate work programme and attendance. At least one meeting will be onsite in CSO. Additional ad hoc meetings may also be scheduled at the request of either the MB or the SMG. 

All Senior Statisticians and Principal Officers and above will be expected to attend and participate fully at the SMG meetings.  A visitors’ chair facility will be put in place to encourage the widest possible participation at SMG. Visitors attending SMG events will participate fully in activities and contribute to discussions.  Two GMF members and the secretary of the NSB will be invited to attend SMG meetings.  The SMG committee may also invite other CSO staff or visiting speakers including the Chair of the National Statistics Board, to contribute at SMG events.

5.  Organisational Supports

The work of the SMG will be supported by the organisation and the work of staff participating in SMG activities will be recognised, supported and facilitated by MB. Where possible, work on SMG activities will be included in an individual’s annual work schedule to enable them give sufficient commitment to the work of the SMG, in pursuit of the strategic objectives of the CSO. 

Internal Communication and Engagement section will provide executive support to the SMG, particularly in relation to the logistical arrangements (organising venues, accommodation, etc.) for the SMG meetings.

6. SMG Committee

The activities of the SMG will be planned and organised by a Committee, comprising a minimum of a Chairperson and Secretary. The Chairperson and Secretary will serve for a two year term. All SMG members serve on the Committee at some point, taking account of any critical work demands at a particular time.  The work of the SMG will be led by this committee in consultation with the MB to align work with CSO and MB strategies and priorities.

7. SMG Evaluation and review

The SMG will undertake an annual self-assessment of its performance against its Terms of Reference, and in light of this assessment review its Terms of Reference.