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Politics, policy preferences and the evolution of Irish bureaucracy: A framework for analysis

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  • Muiris MacCarthaigh

    (Institute of Public Administration, Dublin)

Abstract

Analysis of the Irish state’s administrative system is an unaccountably neglected area of systematic academic inquiry. This is all the more difficult to account for in view of the dynamic relationship between government actors and the public bureaucracy in realizing political goals. Drawing on the Irish State Administration Database (Hardiman, MacCarthaigh and Scott, 2011; http://www.isad.ie), this paper identifies some distinguishing institutional features and dominant trends in Irish politico-administrative governance, and suggests avenues for future inquiry. The paper begins with an examination of literature on administrative system change, with a focus on the New Public Management literature. Following this, the Irish case is profiled, identifying the evolution of ministerial departments and of state agencies by successive Irish governments, including patterns of agency creation and termination over time. Particular attention is given to the 1989-2010 period which has been one of quite rapid and complex organizational change within the state’s bureaucratic apparatus.

Suggested Citation

  • Muiris MacCarthaigh, 2011. "Politics, policy preferences and the evolution of Irish bureaucracy: A framework for analysis," Working Papers 201128, Geary Institute, University College Dublin.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucd:wpaper:201128
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fabrizio Gilardi, 2008. "Delegation in the Regulatory State," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 12818.
    2. Crepaz, Markus M. L., 2002. "Duane Swank, Global Capital, Political Institutions, and Policy Change in Developed Welfare States. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2002," Journal of Public Policy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 22(01), pages 101-106, January.
    3. Swank,Duane, 2002. "Global Capital, Political Institutions, and Policy Change in Developed Welfare States," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521001441, September.
    4. Niamh Hardiman & Colin Scott, 2011. "Ordering Things: The Irish State Administration Database," Working Papers 201127, Geary Institute, University College Dublin.
    5. Swank,Duane, 2002. "Global Capital, Political Institutions, and Policy Change in Developed Welfare States," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521806688, September.
    6. Johan P. Olsen, 2009. "Democratic government, institutional autonomy and the dynamics of change," ARENA Working Papers 1, ARENA.
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