Written answers
Wednesday, 19 December 2007
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Ministerial Appointments
3:00 pm
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 240: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number and identity of persons, groups, bodies or agencies other than the established civil servants from whom he or Ministers of State in his Department have sought or received advice in connection with policy or administrative matters appertaining to the operation of his Department or other bodies under his aegis in the past 12 months; the extent to which such advice related to capital expenditure projects; the cost of such advice; the extent to which it has been implemented to date or if it is intended to be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35968/07]
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The main sources of advice, externally provided to my Department, are the various agencies and bodies under its remit. Of these, Forfás is the main source of advice which inputs into decisions taken by me and my Department in relation to policy matters. Forfás is the national policy and advisory board for enterprise, trade, science, technology and innovation and the body in which the State's legal power for industrial promotion and technological development has been vested. It is also the body through which powers are delegated to Enterprise Ireland for the promotion of indigenous industry and to IDA Ireland for the promotion of inward investment. Science Foundation Ireland was established as a third agency of Forfás in July 2003 to provide strategic support to scientists, engineers and academic researchers working in biotechnology and ICT development.
In carrying out its functions Forfás works with a number of bodies which operate under its aegis or to which Forfás provides an administrative and/or research function. The work of these bodies is an important input into policy formulation at my Department. These bodies include:
The National Competitiveness Council (NCC), which reports to the Taoiseach on issues of National Competitiveness.
The Advisory Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (Advisory Science Council), which advises on medium and long-term policy for science, technology and innovation (STI) and related matters.
The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs
The Enterprise Strategy Group and associated Enterprise Advisory Group
The Business Regulation Forum,
Discover Science and Engineering, the national science awareness programme.
The Small Business Forum, which reported to the Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment in May 2006.
The Interim Board of the National Consumer Agency (established as a statutory entity on 1 May 2007).
The Irish National Accreditation Board (INAB), a committee of Forfás, is the National Body with responsibility for accreditation in accordance with European and international formal standards and guides.
There has been no additional cost to the Department as it is the function of Forfás, which supports the work of the above bodies, to provide such policy advice to the Minister.
As regards Company Law initiatives and legislation, the Department consults a variety of stakeholders including the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority, private sector stakeholders with legal, accounting and fund management expertise and Company Law Review Group. The advice provided by these experts is free of charge to the Department.
In addition, as part of the commitments included under the partnership agreement 'Towards 2016', a High-Level Manufacturing group was established to review the challenges facing the manufacturing sector and to identify further measures to meet those challenges.
None of the above advice relates to capital expenditure projects.
In respect of externally sourced advice, outside of my Department's agencies, which was sought in the period 1 December 2006-30 November 2007 as an input into policy formulation and administrative matters pertaining to the operations of my Department, the information required by the Deputy is set out in the tabular statement.
| Name of Consultants | Purpose | Total Cost | Implementation of advice |
| HELM Corporation Ltd. | Advice and support on the Optimisation of the ORACLE Financial Management system | €18,525.07 (none of which is Capital expenditure) | The advice provided through this consultancy has resulted in greater use being made of the ORACLE Financial Management system. Most notably, access to daily expenditure reports is now directly available to Line Sections throughout the Department. |
| RITS | ICT Security Review | €118,928 (none of which is Capital expenditure | The review looked at all information and communications systems throughout DETE and its offices including, physical locations, IT infrastructure, applications and online services. The review made a number of recommendations to ensure ongoing continuity, integrity and availability of data, including improved patching, formalised change controls and a more systematic and integrated approach to, and increase awareness of, security work. Already a number of the recommendations of the review have been implemented and the remainder, which require considerable work for the Department's IT Unit, will be implemented over the next two years. |
| Indecon Consultants | The Department requested Forfás to examine the implications for Irish industry of the revision to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. Forfás engaged Indecon consultants to undertake a study in this regard | €30,000 (none of which is Capital expenditure. DETE part — funded the project) | The Study was finalised at the end of October 2007. The Report's analysis provides an assessment of the competitiveness impact on both enterprises as a whole and the particular industrial sectors directly affected by the proposed revisions to EU Emissions Trading Scheme. It is currently being used to form the basis of Departmental policy decisions on the issue. |
| Mr Tom Walsh | To provide advice on the development of occupational health and safety policy and related legislation to the Department. | €81,493.20. (not related to capital expenditure) | The advice provided by Mr Walsh is taken into account in the formulation of policy. |
| ARUP Consulting Engineers | To provide advice and recommendations in support of the Department's review of the Dangerous Substances Acts | €144,072. (not related to capital expenditure) | Project just commenced recently |
| Work Research Co-operative Social & Economic Consultants Limited | Research Study on Acquired Disability and Employment | €79,896.30 (none of which is Capital expenditure | Project commenced in October — final report due in March 2008 |
| Goodbody Economic Consultants Limited | Review of the FÁS funded Wage Subsidy Scheme for the employment of people with disabilities. | €47,190 (none of which is Capital expenditure | Work on the Study commenced on 5th November 2007 and a final report is expected in January 2008. |
| RPS Consultancy | Engaged by the interim National Consumer Agency Board to conduct research into energy policy.* | €19,150 (none of which is Capital expenditure) | The advice provided is taken into account in the formulation of policy |
| Deloitte | Engaged by the interim National Consumer Agency Board to advise on drawing up a corporate plan for the Agency.* | €80,323 (none of which is Capital expenditure) | The advice provided is taken into account in the formulation of policy |
| *The Interim Board of the NCA and the ODCA ceased to exist on 1st May 2007 when the National Consumer Agency was formally established as a statutory Agency. |
I have not included details of representations made to me by individuals or representatives groups, operational circulars and directions from other Government Departments, or any legal advices received or sought. I also have excluded any information which relates to the operational day-to-day matters of my agencies, in which I have no function.
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