Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

The big push currently is to get stronger synergy among the major agencies — IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and FÁS — in terms of the skills issues as they affect multinational and indigenous companies. The consumer strategy group is gone; it was in operation for a short period. We must distinguish between agencies and groups that are established for a specific research policy purpose. While the Small Business Forum will continue in an implementation role, it could hardly be described as an agency. It is an effective facility for small businesses to inform Government of their ongoing needs. The Personal Injuries Assessment Board, for example, was set up for a specific reason and has achieved outstanding success. Taking that alone, the benefits to be accrued from good governance via the establishment of such agencies are obvious. I am open to better political accountability. I share the Deputy's concern that all the agencies should realise that the funding comes from this House and that we should have good mechanisms, but we can improve our lot here also, even at committee level, in terms of the way we interact.

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