Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Forfás has played a primary role in enterprise, trade, science, technology and innovation. Its dissolution and transfer of its powers and staff is part of the reform measures within the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to improve the ability of the Department to put in place policies to deliver and create jobs. I commend the excellent staff in the Department who will be joined by excellent staff transferred from Forfás.

The challenges to be met by the Government's jobs and employment strategy change over time to the extent that the approaches adopted in the early 1990s are no longer best suited to the challenges of today. The creation of Forfás and its subsequent successful operation proved that it was a successful policy choice when it was established but the reconfiguration of departments and State agencies has resulted in an overlap in functions and tasks.

The Title of the Industrial Development (Forfás Dissolution) Bill is somewhat misleading and could give the impression that Forfás in its entirety is being abolished. Thankfully, this is not the case. The Bill creates a strategic policy division in the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, which will undertake the core policy advisory and research functions. The division will be free to concentrate on the policies that enhance our job creation efforts without the need to focus on administrative issues such as pension arrangements or other non-core functions.

Another positive aspect of subsuming Forfás into the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is that it becomes subject to parliamentary questions. One limitation of parliamentary questions is the delay which occurs when Departments have to relay the question to the State agency in question. In other situations Departments, regrettably, declare they have no remit in the particular area being scrutinised. This is not a satisfactory outcome for a public representative whose job is to hold public bodies to account. Members of both Houses receive a large volumes of reports, information packs, action plans, documents and policy papers from across government, business, community and non-government sectors. It would be impossible to digest everything and one has to be selective. I understand completely why a former Taoiseach asked for briefing documents to be no longer than one page, on the understanding that if it could not be summarised on one page then it was not worth presenting.

Reports provided by Forfás have always been excellent. The information contained in the many reports compiled by the agency has always been presented in a clear, straightforward and direct manner with clear recommendations for action and areas requiring attention. Reports such as Ireland's Competitiveness Scorecard, Making it in Ireland - Future Skills Requirements of the Manufacturing Sector and Ireland's Construction Sector-Outlook and Strategic Plan to 2015, are some of the documents which I have found to be very useful, informative and helpful in my role as a Deputy and also as a member of the Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. Forfás reports have highlighted the impact of the action plan for jobs. Despite the detractors, this policy is having a verifiable, positive effect in tackling Ireland's employment crisis. One of the recommendations contained in the jobs action plan is the creation of medical technology hubs. I refer to the launch in Galway this week of Ireland's first facility licensed to manufacture human stem cells. This development will lead to the running of clinical trials in a field of science that will change medical treatment forever.

The Minister was present in Galway at that. This is innovation in action and demonstrates what can be achieved when Government, universities and business co-operate. I am certain more innovations, more jobs and more benefits will accrue from this crucial first step in Galway.

I hope Forfás's useful reports will continue to be compiled and distributed. It is very welcome and encouraging that Forfás, in its new guise, will continue its independent analysis and scrutiny. I welcome the Minister's intention that Forfás will retain the ability to directly provide evidence-based, independent advice to the Department. It is essential that the actions we continue to take to improve the job creation environment are based on sound and rigorous analysis, and as we continue the transformation of the economy and face the challenge of changing it from one based on construction and banking to one based on enterprise and exports.

I welcome the statement that this Bill is based on improving the job-creating effectiveness of the Department and is not a cost-saving exercise. This can be seen in the fact that staff numbers are being retained at current levels and staff members are being redeployed to various other sections in the Department.

As the Chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Innovation and Enterprise, Deputy English, said, we heard from members of staff in Forfás and from the Secretary General of the Department last week on the Action Plan for Jobs. That is a very positive step in terms of the number of jobs action plans we have had. We have seen growth in employment over the past number of years. Obviously, there is more to do and I am confident that the inclusion of Forfás in the Department will allow the progression of job creation policies.

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