Public Affairs Panel

The Public Affairs Panel (PAP) is chaired by the Chief Executive and the secretariat role is being carried out by Ciaran Molloy
The Panel’s terms of reference are:

• to foster the advancement of the construction industry's interest in, and contribution to, built environment issues so as to raise and maintain the profile of the CIC and ensure that it is seen as an authority on issues relating to the built environment;
• to advise the CIC Chief Executive in making representations and responding to government and other public and influential bodies on policy issues and associated matters affecting the built environment;
• to assist the preparation of policy papers and consultation responses and the handling of the media, where appropriate;
• to co-ordinate members’ public affairs activities wherever possible and appropriate; and
• to consider how CIC views on Public Affairs issues may be jointly presented to Government and other appropriate authorities in conjunction with other organisations representing specific sectors of the construction industry and, in particular, to advise the Chief Executive and CIC on joint representations through the Construction Umbrella Body network.

The Public Panel has set up a task force to promote the joint participation at the three party political conferences – the Labour Party Conference in Brighton (27 September – 1 October 2009), the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester (5 October – 8 October 2009) and the Liberal Democrat Conference in Bournemouth (19 September – 23 September 2009). 
As these conferences are likely to be the last party conferences before a General Election, another major initiative being undertaken by the Public Affairs Panel is the production of a joint manifesto on construction.  The initial drafting of this important document is currently under way.