Background
One of the recommendations of the 2009 report Statistical Potential of Administrative Records – An Examination of Data Holdings in the Office of the Revenue Commissioners was that the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revenue) put in place a formal memorandum of understanding that recognises the critical dependencies and addresses the key concerns of both organisations; it was further recommended that the memorandum of understanding should establish a Liaison Group of the two bodies.
A first memorandum of understanding between the CSO and Revenue was signed in July 2009, and a revised version of the memorandum of understanding was signed in June 2013. The Memorandum of Understanding between the Central Statistics Office and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners recognises the interdependencies between the CSO and Revenue and establishes the CSO-Revenue Liaison Group as the formal, high-level mechanism for consultation and communication between the two bodies.
The first meeting of the Liaison Group took place on 26 March, 2009.
Current Members:
Mr. Paul Morrin, CSO (co-chairman)
Mr. Brian Boyle, Revenue (co-chairman)
Ms. Jennifer Banim, CSO
Ms. Frankie Kay, CSO
Mr. Brian Ring, CSO
Ms. Orla McCarthy, CSO
Ms. Anne Walsh, Revenue (co-secretary)
Mr. Seán O'Connor, CSO (co-secretary)
Terms of Reference
As laid down in the memorandum of understanding, the terms of reference of the CSO-Revenue Liaison Group are as follows:-
- The CSO-Revenue Liaison Group shall be the formal, high-level mechanism for consultation and communication between both Offices.
- It shall be the responsibility of the Liaison Group to consider all data matters and related issues of mutual interest.
- The Liaison Group shall be the sign-off authority on transfers of data between the two Organisations. The two Offices shall maintain a delivery schedule of data files currently provided by Revenue to the CSO. Changes to this list, and the composition of the data files thereon, shall be agreed between the Revenue Liaison Officer (established under the memorandum of understanding) and the CSO Liaison Officer (established under the memorandum of understanding), subject to the approval of the Liaison Group.
- Revenue shall inform the CSO as early as possible of any proposed changes in availability/scope of Revenue data which could potentially impact on the CSO in carrying out its mandate. Any proposed changes shall be discussed by the Liaison Group.
- Revenue will brief the CSO on changes arising from Finance Acts or other legislation, where they consider it likely that such changes will significantly affect CSO operations, so that any potential impact on the CSO in carrying out its mandate using Revenue data can be reviewed.
- The Liaison Group shall address matters of data protection, in accordance with the Statistics Act and the relevant data protection legislation, and regularly review the security of data transfer between both Organisations and the related storage mechanisms. Responsibility for approving data transfer mechanisms between both Organisations shall rest with the Liaison Group.
- The Liaison Group shall appoint, as required, ad hoc working groups to investigate issues arising; such working groups shall report to the Liaison Group.
- The Liaison Group shall meet on at least two occasions each year and shall be chaired alternately by Revenue and the CSO at Assistant Secretary/Director level.
Frequency of Meetings
As required under the terms of the memorandum of understanding, the Liaison Group meets on at least two occasions each year.
