Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 74: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on whether there is duplication of policy functions between her Department and its supporting agencies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19951/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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There are fourteen Agencies operating under the aegis of my Department, each of which is responsible for the delivery and implementation of a range of policies on behalf of my Department. Their purpose is to implement policy in accordance with their mandates, in areas such as enterprise development, science technology and innovation promotion, labour force development, commercial, industrial, competition or consumer regulation, and personal injury compensation.

For example, Forfás was established as the national policy and advisory body for enterprise, trade, science, technology and innovation, and as such, it conducts research or engages in consultation with relevant stakeholders and sectoral interests in order to provide me with advice on matters relating to the development of industry and enterprise in the State. On the other hand, the Personal Injuries Assessment Board's role extends to the provision of an independent assessment of personal injury compensation for victims of workplace, motor and public liability accidents but does not encompass a policy formulation or advisory function per se.

Our configuration of Agencies supporting the Department has been designed to allow individual Agencies grow a dedicated workforce with specialist skills that enables it to deal efficiently and effectively with policy implementation within their respective remits. However, my Department, on the basis of inputs from these Agencies, as well as from a wide range of other stakeholders – Government Departments, the Social Partners, representative organisations and individual stakeholders – remains responsible for developing the strategic perspective which forms the basis for policy advice to, and decision-making by, me as Minister and by Government collectively.

I remain satisfied that there is clarity in relation to the policy formulation role of my Department on the one hand, and the policy advisory and implementation functions of our Agencies, on the other. Nonetheless, I can assure the Deputy that I and my Department keeps the appropriateness of the configuration of our Agency structure under review, on a case-by-case basis, such that we make adjustments, as appropriate, to the roles and structures of the Agencies where the case for such is well founded.