Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

The Bill has changed little since it was passed by the Seanad in February. On foot of an amendment by Deputy Upton, section 6 and the Title were amended to include the Irish language version in the name of the foundation – Fondúireacht Eolaíochta Éireann.

Deputy Upton also proposed an amendment to section 14(3) which provides that the foundation, rather than the director general, shall have regard to any recommendations of an Oireachtas committee. This amendment was accepted.

A new section 27, the transfer of rights and liabilities to the foundation, has been added to the Bill. Since the foundation was set up as a committee of Forfás, it has entered into grant agreements that involve the payment of grants in instalments over a period of time. This provision allows the rights and obligations arising from these arrangements to be transferred to the foundation when it is established as a statutory body. The provisions of the new section are based on similar provisions in the Industrial Development (Enterprise Ireland) Act 1998.

The remaining amendments in sections 2 and 20 are drafting arrangements.