Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding the legal status of the national metrology laboratory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27367/05]

Michael Ahern (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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The National Standards Authority of Ireland, NSAI, has legislative responsibility for all metrology in the State. The Metrology Act 1996 provided for the establishment of a legal metrology service within Forbairt and for its functions to be exercised through the director of legal metrology. Section 21 of that Act deals exclusively with national metrology functions and defines the legal basis and locus of responsibility for functions related to all metrology in the State. Subsequently, responsibility for metrology was transferred from Forbairt to the NSAI by virtue of the Industrial Development (Enterprise Ireland) Act 1998. Section 51 of this Act also gave specific responsibility to NSAI "to promote the use and application of metrology in the State".

The metrology laboratory, located on the Enterprise Ireland campus in Glasnevin, is not a legal entity in itself. The laboratory carries out functions on behalf of the National Standards Authority of Ireland through its staff which are Forfás staff seconded to Enterprise Ireland. The cost of this is borne by NSAI.