Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on this important legislation, the Industrial Development (Forfás Dissolution) Bill 2013, which allows us to reflect on efforts relating to job creation within the economy and the important role of research, development and innovation in driving progress in this regard. Although there has not been a great deal of shouting and roaring about it, this is an important Bill. There has been a great deal of focus on reform in the media of late, and rightly so. If we are not prepared to advocate reform, we should not be in public life or Members of this Parliament. While some people like to discuss reform in abstract terms, those of us in government must get our hands dirty in the context of implementing such reform. The Bill involves important reform but that reform is not the kind which garners headlines. One will not see reports about it on the front pages of newspapers or on television news programmes because it is not sufficiently striking. However, this legislation is going to be extremely effective.

Reform can take time to achieve. When it came to office, the Government outlined proposals for Forfás to be subsumed into the Department and in respect of bringing other agencies such as IDA Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland, etc. back into a central position. One of Fine Gael's and the Labour Party's key campaign pledges during the general election related to the need to get rid of quangos and streamline government. The introduction of this Bill marks the fulfilment of another election promise. It is important the House and our friends in the media should note this because it is both good news and a further step on the road to reform. Slowly but surely, the Government is making progress in respect of the changes it wishes to make. Much of the reform relates to how Departments are run, how we do business and how to streamline the decision-making process in the context of the analysis and research that is carried out. I hope that when it is subsumed into the Department, Forfás will play a central role in driving and informing the decision-making process employed by the Ministers and their officials.

It is important to state that the Government is not eliminating Forfás just for the sake of doing so. Rather, it is attempting to strengthen the Department and ensure it will be more proactive in the context of planning for the future, facilitating job creation and addressing any skills shortages or meeting any demands which might arise in the future. What Forfás has always done is carry out analysis and research in order to try to drive the decision-making process, highlight areas in respect of which adaptation is necessary and identify developments for which we must be ready and any problems which might arise.

The subsuming of Forfás back into the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is a very positive development. In that context, a positive opportunity exists for solid scientific research, development and innovation to lead the decision-making process of the Department. I hope the amalgamation will be seen in that spirit. At its meeting yesterday, the Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation engaged in a brief discussion on this matter with the Secretary General of the Department, Mr. John Murphy, Mr. Martin Shanahan, CEO of Forfás, and a number of key staff in the context of Action Plan for Jobs and the role the Department played during Ireland's Presidency of the EU last year. There is a very good relationship between the staff of Forfás and that of the Department. I am of the view that the amalgamation will be seen in the right spirit and that the staff of Forfás will be listened to. A number of the members of the committee referred to the need to protect the research budget of Forfás and to ensure it will not be diverted elsewhere when the amalgamation has been completed. The Minister of State has responsibility for research so I know I am directing my comments to the right person. It is important the research budget is ring-fenced and proper analysis and research continues to be carried out. A commitment in this regard was provided at yesterday's meeting and I hope the analysis and research will continue in the years ahead.

The work Forfás does is very important for and useful to many of those who operated in industry and business. In addition, it managed to engage the services of large numbers of experts and is a major player in expert review groups detailed with examining different aspects of legislation and enterprise policy. This engagement with other stakeholders must be built on in the future. I hope the agency's focus on research, development and innovation will drive the policies of the Department. I am sure the Minister, Deputy Bruton, the Ministers of State, Deputies Perry and Sherlock, and the staff of the Department will work with those from the agency and I trust that the correct approach will be taken.

The lack of jobs and the need to generate employment quite rightly dominated the agenda relating to the 2011 general election campaign. Creating job opportunities remains the Government's top priority. The various changes for which the Bill provides relate to getting the Department to a better place in order that it might proactively encourage the creation of further jobs and the development of a stronger, more streamlined and less bureaucratic enterprise environment. I might mention Action Plan for Jobs in this regard, the purpose of which is to try to foster the environment necessary to facilitate the creation of jobs. It is often stated that Governments do not create jobs. Regardless of whether that is the case, they certainly create the environment in which jobs can be generated and foster the conditions which make it possible for enterprise to thrive. The reforms in the Bill relate to changing both the Department and the various agencies for which it has responsibility in order that they might work together in a more streamlined and cost-effective way and deliver results.

Others might not agree but I am of the view we have made good progress in respect of job creation. Unemployment levels have decreased from of 15.1% to 12.4% in the past two years. That is a step in the right direction. Getting below 13% was a major achievement but ensuring the figure continues to decrease each month is key to restoring confidence and rebuilding hope among members of the public.

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