Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 675: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he has taken to regulate the adult entertainment industry; if he has set up a working group on this matter; the composition and terms of reference of this working group; when the working group will report; if there will be a public consultation on the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3142/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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In 2007 my Department established a task force to examine the regulatory context around the siting and location of adult entertainment venues. The task force is chaired by my Department and comprises representatives from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform; the Office of the Revenue Commissioners; An Garda Síochána; and Dublin City Council.

The task force has met on a number of occasions, and its work has been informed by detailed consideration of a range of issues based on agreed terms of reference (set out below). Given the relevance of a number of different statutory codes to this matter, it is not clear that planning regulation alone can adequately support an appropriate and effective local control regime, and the interaction of these various codes needs to be examined to ensure that the best possible approach is taken.

I understand that the task force is close to finalising its work and I expect to receive a draft report shortly. On completion of a final report, I will, in consultation with Government colleagues, consider appropriate measures to progress the issues raised.

In advance of any new proposals, local authorities should use the powers currently available to them under the planning code, such as the development plan process, to ensure that new late night entertainment venues are not inappropriately located, for example in quiet residential areas.

Agreed Terms of Reference

To define which types of premises are at issue for the purposes of the deliberations of the taskforce.

To examine, with reference to the planning code, the various codes which apply to those premises to establish the interfaces and identify the existence of any regulatory 'gaps'.

To establish how synergies between the planning code and other codes can be exploited to close any identified gaps in the existing regulatory framework.

To examine issues in relation to how the siting and land-use implications of such premises complement their licensing and wider regulation.

To make recommendations for any further work required in this area.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 676: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of task forces currently operating in his Department; the membership and terms of reference; the name of each one; the estimate cost of the taskforce; if he will report on the progress being made by the task force; if they have made any recommendations to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3163/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 677: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the taskforces established under the auspices of his Department in the past five years; the recommendations made by each taskforce; the progress being made in implementing these recommendations; if specific recommendations have been rejected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3178/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 678: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the taskforces established under the auspices of his Department in the past five years; the cost of these taskforces in terms of administrative support, expenses, research and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3193/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 676 to 678, inclusive, together.

It is not feasible to separate taskforces from a variety of administrative arrangements such as working or action groups, steering committees or project teams which are routine and efficient mechanisms for the management of a range of projects and tasks and for the delivery of the business objectives contained in my Department's successive Statements of Strategy. The detailed information sought is not readily available and because of the number of such arrangements its compilation would involve a disproportionate amount of time and work.