Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 41: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has any plans to restructure her Department. [11669/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My question was whether there are any plans to restructure the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, which has existed in its current form since 1997. The question arises from reports in the media of proposals to break up the Department.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

That is a matter for the Taoiseach, not the Tánaiste.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is a valid question for the Tánaiste because I am sure she, her Secretary General and others in the Department would be consulted before the Taoiseach would break it up. Perhaps there is a case to be made for such a restructuring. In the United Kingdom, for example, there is a Department for Work and Pensions which deals with people on social welfare of working age as well as labour market aspects of law.

It seems to me that the reason the Government is considering a reform, break-up or restructuring of the Tánaiste's Department is that the Taoiseach does not want to move her aside or dismiss her and that his own personal loyalty to her means he is considering abolishing the Department from underneath her. Does the Tánaiste accept that is the case, that the reason the Department is under review and may well be broken up is that she is the Minister of that Department and not because any serious consideration is being given to reforming the Department itself?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

To clarify, the Taoiseach is answerable to the Dáil for the structure of Departments and the Tánaiste for responsibilities within her Department.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Leas-Cheann Comhairle has answered the question. This is a matter for the Taoiseach. The political insinuation that is being put across the Chamber is a political charge. As the Deputy knows full well, the development of the structures of my Department is within the remit of the Taoiseach.

However, it is important to say that the Ministers of State at my Department and I have been very much involved in the streamlining of the services we provide to our citizens and the creation of new policy frameworks. We have worked hard towards the greater integration of the activities of Enterprise Ireland, the IDA, county enterprise boards and a number of agencies that are not necessarily our responsibility, such as the Leader programme, Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta and Údarás na Gaeltachta, which are the responsibility of the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív. We have been working on enterprise policy and supporting that with the activities of Science Foundation Ireland. My colleagues and I have also been working closely with Forfás in using the independent supports available to the State through that body to ensure we have policy that is fit for purpose. We are looking at the proposals put forward in the McCarthy report to see whether there are new opportunities in shared services and new structures that will be more cross-cutting under the remit of several of the agencies within my Department.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Tánaiste says that this is, in the final analysis, a matter for the Taoiseach. However, has the Taoiseach had any consultations with her or with the Secretary General about breaking up the Department? I am sure he would discuss it with her before he would consider removing one of the elements of her Department or breaking it up.

On "The Frontline" programme last night, an audience member, speaking about the Tánaiste's representation of Ireland abroad, said there was a cringe factor. A recent newspaper article suggests that IDA representatives are embarrassed by the Tánaiste when she goes overseas with them. Others have said she is unable to talk to business people and that when she does, the language she uses is often inappropriate and vulgar.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Does the Deputy have a question for the Tánaiste?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

What does the Tánaiste say to those who level the charge at her that she is not suitable to represent Ireland overseas?

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I have numerous discussions with the Taoiseach on many issues which are the privilege of the Taoiseach and me. Unlike others, I do not discuss them in the public domain, nor will I add to any rumours in the context of the final decision of the Taoiseach. I respect that it is a matter for him, as I am sure Deputy Varadkar would respect the leader of his party in his determination as to where the Deputy's responsibility is within the Front Bench or any changes he might decide in order to facilitate the Deputy or otherwise. This issue is a matter for the Taoiseach, and all my colleagues will be very much of the view that it is his prerogative to make his decisions.

On the other issues to which the Deputy alluded, I appreciate very much that many of the nasty comments that have been made are politically motivated. Perhaps the Deputy should take the opportunity of seeing the work I have done on behalf of this country in working with the development agencies to ensure that we continue to have positive foreign direct investment in this country. I travelled on a number of occasions-----

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Such investment has decreased by 47% since the Tánaiste took up her Ministry.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Perhaps the Deputy has forgotten that there is a new economic reality. Despite that reality, 125 investments were made last year on the basis of considerable hard work by me, the Ministers of State at my Department and the development agencies in encouraging people to invest here. Equally, we have worked closely with many Irish companies, of which we are singularly proud, in providing new opportunities for them abroad. I have travelled abroad to represent Ireland in the context of our strategy in the Middle East, our strategy in supporting companies within the eurozone, in the United Kingdom, in the United States and, later on in the year, in Australia and Brazil.

My personality is a matter for others to decide. My job is to represent this country abroad and I do so with pride and with the privilege bestowed on me by my Taoiseach. Political charges of that nature perhaps show the ineptitude of some in the Opposition who cannot prove that on this side of the House-----

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

These criticisms are not from the Opposition; they are from people in business.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The issue is that the opposition is not in this House-----

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

We did not go on the Tánaiste's overseas trips.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

-----and the political charges are ones which I may take from the Deputy but not from others.