Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

It is a matter in the first instance for the Taoiseach to determine the structures and functions of individual Departments. Ministers, when appointed to Departments, are then responsible for policy determination and the performance of the functions that are assigned to their Department.

My current policy priorities are centred on creating the right policy framework to assist the enterprise community to create and maintain employment opportunities while supporting the unemployed back into the workforce. Specifically, we are continually working to ensure we have the most appropriate policies to nurture both the indigenous and foreign direct investment sectors through current difficulties. We are also implementing several significant initiatives to assist the unemployed, and we continue to examine all options to do more on activation, training and re-skilling opportunities. More particularly, our current focus is on the areas of reviewing enterprise development agency relationships and strategies in light of the current challenges facing their stakeholders and, in this regard, we launched the new IDA strategy last week; updating the national skills strategy; finalising and promoting a new trade and investment strategy; providing enhanced consumer and competition protections through the merger of the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency; driving the competitiveness and green jobs agenda with Government colleagues; maintaining our strategy for science, technology and innovation, SSTI, investments to support the smart economy drive; and delivery of my Department's many T16 employment rights and industrial relations legislative commitments.

In support of policy implementation and monitoring, the Secretary General of the Department, under the Public Service Management Act 1997, is responsible for, among other matters, both the strategic and day-to-day management of the Department. The Secretary General, supported by his management board, keeps the structures and assignment of personnel throughout the Department under regular review to ensure it continues to be fit for purpose.

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