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Subjects · Leaving Cert Politics & Society

Leaving Cert Politics & Society: Making national policy

How often Making national policy comes up on the Politics & Society papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 3 of the last 7 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2024.

OL Asked on 3 of the last 7 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2021.

Making national policy, Higher Level(6 marks)

Quick ones on Making national policy.

(a)What is the main role of the civil service in making national policy?
  1. Pass laws on behalf of the Oireachtas
  2. Advise ministers and implement policy
  3. Elect the Taoiseach after an election
(b)Social partnership in Ireland (1987 to around 2009) brought government together with which groups?
  1. The European Commission, the ECB and the IMF
  2. TDs, senators and MEPs, with no outside groups at all
  3. Employers, unions, farmers and community groups
(c)What is a programme for government?
  1. A plan of policies agreed for a government's term
  2. One party's list of pre-election promises
  3. The annual budget passed by the Dáil
Show the answers

(a) Advise ministers and implement policy

(b) Employers, unions, farmers and community groups

(c) A plan of policies agreed for a government's term

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Making national policy.

Higher Level

Asked on 3 of the last 7 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2024.

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Not asked
2024Q1g
2023Not asked
2022Q1n
2021Q1j
2019Not asked
2018Not asked

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 3 of the last 7 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2021.

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Not asked
2024Not asked
2023Not asked
2022Not asked
2021Q1f, Q1g
2019Q1h, Q1l
2018Q1k

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Making national policy questions

Making national policy, 2 marks

What is the main role of the civil service in Ireland?

  1. To pass new laws and debate them in the Dáil and Seanad
  2. To decide whether new laws fit the Constitution
  3. To advise ministers and carry out government policy
Show the answer

To advise ministers and carry out government policy

Civil servants are permanent, politically neutral staff in government departments. They draft plans and run services; ministers and the Oireachtas make the political decisions.

Making national policy, 2 marks

What is a statutory body?

  1. A political party that won an election
  2. A body set up by law to carry out a public role
  3. A group of volunteers who collect for charity
Show the answer

A body set up by law to carry out a public role

Statutory bodies are created by an Act of the Oireachtas, such as the Ombudsman for Children's Office. They advise, regulate or deliver services and can shape national policy.

Making national policy, 2 marks

What was social partnership in Ireland?

  1. Government, employers and unions agreeing national plans
  2. A coalition of two political parties in government
  3. An Irish-British deal on the future of Northern Ireland
Show the answer

Government, employers and unions agreeing national plans

From 1987 until the financial crisis around 2009, agreements on pay and policy were made through talks between government, employers, unions, farmers and community groups.

Other Politics & Society topics

All of Leaving Cert Politics & Society