Written answers
Thursday, 21 January 2010
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Departmental Reports
5:00 pm
John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 67: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of reports and task forces set up and commissioned in her Department in 2007, 2008 and 2009; the reason for each report; the number of reports completed; and the cost of each in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2625/10]
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The details requested by the Deputy are in a tabular statement.
Reports Commissioned by the Department
2007
| Title of Report | Report Completed | Reason for Report | Cost of Report |
| Review of the Operation of the National Employment Rights Authority's (NERA) Information Services. | Yes | To make recommendations on the structures, processes and systems that should operate in NERA's Information Unit in order to achieve the highest possible standard of excellence in terms of meeting customer needs | €95,711 |
| Review and Regulation of Petroleum Handling and Storage Facilities | Yes | To provide advice and Recommendations to the Department in support of its review of the Dangerous Substances Acts 1972 and 1979 and related Regulations | €143,098 |
| Value for money Review of Science Foundation Ireland | Yes | The review was undertaken as part of the Government's Value for Money and Policy Review initiative | €189,038 |
| Value for Money Review of the FAS Competency Development Programme (CDP) | Due in Spring 2010 | To examine the effectiveness and efficiency of the CDP in advancing the strategy of the Department insofar as it relates to training of the employed. | Being produced within Department |
| Research Report on Acquired Disability and Employment | Yes | To research issues surrounding acquired disability in employment and job retention | €79,896 |
| Review of the Wage Subsidy Scheme | Yes | To review the Wage Subsidy Scheme | €47,190 |
| Delivering a More Inclusive Workplace: Innovations from EQUAL (an EU European Social Fund (ESF) co-funded Community Initiative) | Yes | Reporting requirements under ESF co-funded programme | €23,128(50% ESF co-funded) |
| Business Process Review of the Department's Insolvency Payments Section | Yes | To carry out a Business Process Review of the Department's Insolvency Payments Section | €20,364 |
| Report on General Scheme of the Companies Consolidation and Reform Bill | Yes | Section 71 of the Company Law Enforcement Act 2001 makes provision for the Company Law Review Group (CLRG) to provide a report to the Minister both on the activities of the Group during the year, and on any matter concerning the functions of the Group or any matter referred to the Group for its advice.The Report is explanatory and accompanies Pillars A and B of the General Scheme of the Companies Consolidation and Reform Bill | €12,571 |
| Report of the Business Regulation Forum (BRF) | Yes | The BRF was set up to advise the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on regulatory matters impacting on business. The Report sets out the findings of the BRF in this regard | €7,615 |
| Forfás Report on Ireland's Co-operative Sector | Yes | To provide an economic and social profile of the co-operative sector to assist the Department in reviewing the legislative and organisational framework for co-operatives | Nil(Cost borne by Forfás) |
| Market Research re Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) | Yes | Measurement of company law compliance environment and the performance of the ODCE in the discharge of its functions | €44,790 |
| Forensic Accounting Assignment for ODCE | Yes | Assistance in ODCE investigation | €121,053 |
| Communications Strategy | Yes | Advice on dissemination of information to encourage compliance with Company Law | €32,670 |
| Report of the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) Procedures Revision Group | Yes | Report examined EAT's procedures and looked at ways of improving customer service outcomes | €8,056 |
2008
| Title of Report | Report Completed | Reason for Report | Cost of Report |
| Website Evaluation Report | Yes | Review of the Department's website | €41,261 |
| Report and Recommendations from the Consultation Process with Staff in the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment | Yes | To examine feedback from staff with a view to formulating an action plan to improve their working environment and thus help them to contribute more effectively to achieving my Department's business objectives. | €18,000 |
| Business Process Review and Gap Analysis of Operations and Activities of the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) | Yes | To inform the formulation of requirements for an ICT Solution to meet the Authority's case management and information provision requirements. | NIL |
| First Report on the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation | Yes | To outline progress made in implementing the Governments Strategy for Science, Technology & Innovation since its adoption in 2006 | €18,212 |
| Evaluation of Discover Science and Engineering Programme (DSE) | Yes | Review of the efficacy of the DSE Science Awareness programme by a panel of international experts | €105,082(Shared equally between the Department and Forfás) |
| Review of Irish membership of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) | Anticipated publication date is early 2010 | The review was undertaken as part of initial Government decision in 2004 upon joining EMBL. | €51,182 (Shared equally between the Department and Forfás. |
| Equality Survey under the European Social Fund (ESF) co-funded EQUAL Community Initiative | Yes | Aim of survey and report was to:·Assess public views and knowledge of equality, with a particular emphasis on the labour market, education and training;· Ascertain knowledge of actions to promote equality at EU and national level; and· Identify public support for further action at EU and national level in relation to equality. | €23,850(50% co-funded by the ESF) |
| Audit of "DAWN" project under ESF co-funded EQUAL Community Initiative | Yes | To review audit trail for ESF expenditure | €25,090(50% co-funded by the ESF) |
| Review and assessment of EQUAL Community Initiative 2000-2006 | Yes | To review and assess the EQUAL Community Initiative 2000-2006 | €61,595 |
| Review of the FÁS Science Challenge Initiative | Yes | To review expenditure to date under the Initiative and to make recommendations on its future | NIL(Review and Report were completed within Department) |
| Review of Labour Market Programmes by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment | Ongoing | To review efficiency and effectiveness of labour Market programmes | NIL(Analytical support provided by Forfás.) |
| Data Backup and Storage Review | September 2008 | To review the Department's Data Backup and Storage environment and produce a report with recommendations. | €13,750 |
| Productive Sector Operational Programme (PSOP) Managing Authority "Look Back" Audit (Parts 1 & 2) | Yes | To demonstrate compliance with EU Structural Funds Regulatory requirements | €38,130 |
| Report on a named company | Yes | Assessment of a named company's restructuring plan | €273,460 |
| Environmental Goods and Services on the Island of Ireland - Enterprise Opportunities and Policy Implications | Yes | The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment asked Forfás to examine the opportunities in the Environmental Goods and Service Sector | A study was commissioned as the basis for this report at a cost of €119,866, this cost was met equally by Forfás and InterTradeIreland.Associated printing costs of €3,902 were paid by Forfás. |
| Measuring Administrative Burdens in Company Law, Employment Law and Health & Safety Law | Yes | To measure the administrative burdens arising in Company Law, Employment Law and Health and Safety Law in order to contribute to the 25% target on reducing administrative burden for business | €58,249 |
| Prioritising Health & Safety Information Obligations (2 reports) | Yes | To identify a list of priority information obligations arising from health and safety legislation for measurement in order to contribute to the 25% target on reducing administrative burden for business | €5,143 |
| Prioritising Information Obligations in Company Law | Yes | To Identify a list of priority information obligations arising from company law for measurement in order to contribute to the 25% target on administrative burden reduction | €2,226 |
| Listing of information obligations in Employment Law | Yes | To list the information obligations arising from employment law in order to contribute to the 25% target on reducing administrative burden for business | €4,650 |
| Listing of information obligations in Company Law | Yes | To list the information obligations arising from company law in order to contribute to the 25% target on reducing administrative burden for business | €5,102 |
| Listing of information obligations in Health & Safety Law | Yes | To list the information obligations arising in health and safety law in order to contribute to the 25% target on reducing administrative burden for business | €4,616 |
| Provision of Statistical Analysis (re Audit Exemption Threshold) | Yes | Estimation of number of companies to benefit from change in Audit Exemption Threshold in order to contribute to the 25% target on reducing administrative burden for business | €182 |
| Three Standard Cost Model measurements for the High Level Group on Business Regulation | Yes | To carry out a measurement of specific administrative burdens identified by the High Level Group on Business Regulation in order to contribute to the 25% target on reducing administrative burden for business | €5,707 |
| Report on the Company Law Review Group (CLRG) Work Programme 2007 | Yes | Section 71 of the Company Law Enforcement Act 2001 makes provision for the CLRG to provide a report to the Minister both on the activities of the Group during the year. | €8,935 |
| Grocery Monitor Reports Numbers 1, 2 and & 3:(1) A Description of the Structure & Operation of Grocery Retailing & Wholesaling in Ireland 2001-2008(2) A Description of the Structure & Operation of Grocery Retailing & Wholesaling in Ireland 2001-2008(3) A Description of the Structure & Operation of Grocery Retailing & Wholesaling in Ireland 2001-2008 | Yes | Following the repeal of the Restrictive Practices (Groceries) Order 1987, the Competition Authority was requested to review and monitor developments in the grocery sector in light of the new regulatory environment. | Cost borne by the Competition Authority. |
| Report of the Advisory Group on Media Mergers | Yes | An Advisory Group was established in 2008 to carry out a review of the legislative provisions applying to media mergers. | €33,732 |
| Companies Registration Office Business Process Engineering Review | Yes | Examination of processes in the Carlow and Dublin offices after establishment of Carlow office | €71,874 |
| Companies Registration Office XBRL Feasibility Study | Yes | To test the feasibility of implementing the filing of XBRL financial statements | €31,683 |
| Market Research for the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) - continuation of 2007 research | Yes | Measurement of company law compliance environment and the performance of the ODCE in the discharge of its functions | €15,898 |
| Forensic Accounting Assignment for the ODCE | Ongoing | Assistance in ODCE investigation | €137,772 |
2009
| Title of Report | Report Completed | Reason for Report | Cost of Report |
| Dispute between the TEEU and employers in the electrical contracting industry | Yes | Enquiry commissioned under Section 38(2) of the 1990 Industrial Relations Act | €40,000 |
| Science, Technology and Innovation: Delivering the Smart Economy | Yes | To outline progress made by Ireland in developing the Smart Economy through strategic investment in R&D | €12,648 |
| First report of the Enterprise Feedback Group to Tánaiste (see entry under "Task Forces" also) | To be published shortly | To enable enterprise representatives to provide feedback on the implementation of the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) 2006-2013 thereby informing the formulation of future STI policy | - |
| Oracle Software Asset Management | Yes | Analyse software usage and license compliance. | €7,560 |
| Redundancy, Insolvency Recovery (RIR) Feasibility Study (Technical Upgrade & Migration to Redundancy Payments System (RPS) Platform) | Yes | To determine the feasibility, of capitalising on the hardware investment for the Redundancy Payments System through a migration and technical upgrade of the Insolvency Payments System | €10,328 |
| Report of the High Level Action Group on Green Enterprise (see entry under "Task Forces" also) | Yes | The Report was the formal output of the High Level Action Group on Green Enterprise | Cost met by Forfás |
| Assessment of Policy Options for Credit Insurance | Yes | To assess possible provision of State supported Export Credit Insurance | Work undertaken by Forfás |
| Forensic Assessment of Ireland's Credit Insurance Market during 2008 and 2009 | Yes | To undertake a forensic assessment of the Credit Insurance market in Ireland | €209,564 |
| Report of the Procurement Innovation Group | Yes | To improve public procurement practices and SME access | - |
| Retail-related Import and Distribution Study | Yes | The Competition Authority was asked to carry out a study of the retail import and distribution sector aimed at bringing greater transparency to structure and pricing in the retail sector. | Cost borne by the Competition Authority |
| Report of the Company Law Review Group (CLRG) Work Programme 2008 | Yes | Section 71 of the Company Law Enforcement Act 2001 makes provision for the CLRG to provide a report to the Minister both on the activities of the Group during the year, and on any matter concerning the functions of the Group or any matter referred to the Group for its advice. | - |
Task Forces Commissioned by the Department
No Task Forces were commissioned in 2007. The following is the position for 2008 & 2009:
2008
| Name of Task Forces | Work of Task Force Completed | Reason for Task Force | Cost of Task Force |
| Enterprise Feedback Group (see entry under "Reports" also) | Ongoing | To enable enterprise representatives to provide feedback on the implementation of the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) 2006-2013 thereby informing the formulation of future STI policy | Travel and Subsistence allowance is provided to members at standard rates |
| High Level Action Group on Green Enterprise (see entry under "Reports" also) | Yes | The High Level Action Group on Green Enterprise was established pursuant to a commitment in the Government's framework for Sustainable Economic Renewal, Building Ireland's Smart Economy | Miscellaneous costs totalling less than €1,000 |
| Sales Law Review Group | Ongoing | To review the legislation governing the sale of goods and supply of services | €62,128 The 2009 expenditure includes a payment of €14,000 on a research report entitled 'Evolution of the Sale of Goods Act 1893 in Other Jurisdictions and Lessons for the Reform of Irish Sales Law' that was commissioned by the Review Group in September 2009. |
2009
| Name of Task Forces | Work of Task Force Completed | Reason for Task Force | Cost of Task Force |
| Mid-West Task Force Interim Report | No | The Task Force was established following 1,900 jobs lost in Dell in 2009. The Task Force was to examine economic impacts and make recommendations. | Nil to date |
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