• Background
• Role of group
• Membership of group 
• Operation of the Group 

Terms of Reference

Background

Chairman: Paul Morrin, Assistant Director General, Central Statistics Office

Secretary: Maura Horgan, Executive Officer, Central Statistics Office

NSB strategy 2021-2026 (PDF available on NSB website) is primarily focussed on the further development of the Irish Statistical System. NSB strategy is with respect to the wider Public Sector (not just CSO). Paul Morrin, Assistant Director General, CSO has been appointed with special responsibility for the development of the Irish Statistical System.

Role of group

The primary functions/roles of this group are as follows:

• Provide a formal communications channel between the CSO and Statistical Units embedded in the broader Public Service;
• Monitor the development and implementation of appropriate Public Service Bodies data strategies;
• Provide advice and input on the implementation of the National Statistics Board’s vision for an Irish Statistical System (ISS);
• Promote adherence to international principles guiding the compilation and dissemination of official statistics (UN Fundamental Principle of Official Statistics and European Statistics Code of Practice);
• Provide a focus within respective Public Service Bodies data strategies for the implementation of the recommendations set out in the NSB’s Strategic Priorities for Official Statistics 2021-2026; 
• On completion of an implementation strategy for the Irish Statistical System by the NSB provide a focus within respective Public Service Bodies for the achievement of the objectives set out by the NSB;
• Promotion of the wider use of information and in particular the exploitation of administrative data to inform policy.

Membership of Group

The group will comprise of a number of persons (typically but not exclusively official statisticians on secondment) involved in the compilation and dissemination of official statistics in Public Service Bodies. These persons will be invited by the Director General of the CSO to contribute to the group.

The group will be chaired by the Assistant Director General at the CSO with special responsibility for the development of the Irish Statistical System.

Operation of the Group

The group will meet at least twice a year. These meetings will be used for the exchange of relevant information, developments and reporting of considerations on a range of issues relevant to official statistics including the Irish Statistical System.

On demand the chairperson may invite other persons to attend and or speak to the group where the chairperson considers such a contribution may be of benefit to the role of the group.

On demand the chairperson may invite members onto a group or team to work on specific topics or evaluate progress in specific areas where the chairperson considers such a contribution may be of benefit to the role of the group or the further development of the Irish Statistical System.