Protocol and Civic Policy Division

The Protocol and Civic Policy Division of the Department of the Taoiseach has responsibility for State Protocol, including protocol for the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Ministers of State. This involves the organisation of State and official events including Commemorations, Inward visits from Heads of State or Government.

The Division is the point of contact between the President and Government Departments.

It has responsibility for Arts and Culture issues in particular in relation to the Creative Ireland Initiative.

It also chairs the Interdepartmental Group on Security of Ireland’s Electoral Process and Disinformation.

The Division also maintains the printed text of the Constitution up to date, and liaises on administrative matters with the State’s Legal Offices:

• Office of the Attorney General;
• Chief State Solicitor's Office;
• Office of the Director of Public Prosecution and
• the Law Reform Commission.

The Government established the Seanad Reform Implementation Group (SRIG) in May 2018. The Group under the Chairmanship of Senator Michael McDowell published its report and draft Bill on the implementation of the recommendations of the Manning Report in December 2018.

You can download copies of the Report and Bill and Manning Report below:

Senator McDowell's letter to the Taoiseach which accompanied the Report is also available to download below:

Minutes of group meetings can be accessed here

All submissions received by the Working Group on Seanad Reform can be located here.

The Moriarty Tribunal was established in October, 1997. It published its First Report in December 2006 and its Second (Final) Report in March 2011. The Division has Departmental oversight for the Moriarty Tribunal and liaises with the Tribunal in relation to administrative matters.

The Division provides the Secretariat for the process of structured dialogue between the State, the churches, faith communities and non-confessional bodies.

The Division provides the Secretariat to The Future of Media Commission. The Commission was set up by Government in September 2020 as an independent, expert group tasked with examining the future of the media in Ireland, including the issues facing public service broadcasters, commercial broadcasters, print and online media platforms. The Commission is due to produce a report and recommendations by summer of 2021. To learn more, visit www.futureofmediacommission.ie.