Elizabeth Canavan

Assistant Secretary for Social Policy, Public Service Reform & Government Information Service.

Social Policy and Public Service Reform Division supports the Taoiseach on social policy and public service reform and related matters, including the work of the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Equality; the Cabinet Committee on Health; the Cabinet Committee on COVID-19; and the Cabinet Committee on Education. The Division supports Civil Service Renewal, including through the Civil Service Management Board; and has the Departmental oversight role for the National Economic and Social Council.

The Division also incorporates the Policing Reform Implementation Programme Office.

The Government Information Service (GIS) has responsibility to:

• provide timely and effective support to the Taoiseach in relation to Government meetings; Cabinet Committees; Oireachtas Committees; meetings; Parliamentary Questions (PQs); speech material and correspondence and ensure that Freedom of Information (FOI) requests are responded to in a timely manner and that good records are maintained within GIS
• provide the Taoiseach and Government with Press Office support
• ensure strong collaboration and coordination among Press and Communications officials in other Government Departments and Agencies
• coordinate, support and amplify communications around key Government priorities such as Housing for All, Brexit, Shared Island, the National Wellbeing Framework and COVID-19
• lead the development of Government communications, support and encourage capacity-building in the area of communications and engagement across the civil and public service, and manage the “Government of Ireland” identity and unified web presence.