Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 215: To ask the Minister for Jobs; Enterprise and Innovation the specific roles and responsibilities of the Ministers of State in his Department. [17052/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The two Ministers of State at my Department are Mr. John Perry, T.D., who has responsibility for Small Business and Mr. Sean Sherlock, T.D., who has responsibility for Research and Innovation.

The responsibilities for Minister of State Perry include maintaining a key focus on the needs of small business and entrepreneurs and ensuring that the interests of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Ireland are taken into account in the development and execution of policy initiatives at national, EU and OECD levels, including eBusiness initiatives. His role also incorporates legal metrology, implementation of the restructuring of the County and City Enterprise Boards, driving the Better Business Regulation agenda, promoting greater access to procurement opportunities for SMEs, developing the Green Economy, and overseeing coordination and ongoing rollout of Internal market policy generally including coordination of Ireland's position on the EU's Single Market Act.

The responsibilities for Minister of State Sherlock cover a broad range of activities across science, technology, innovation and intellectual property where Ireland's performance will be critical to recovery and future economic prosperity. A key focus will be driving the Innovation and Commercialisation commitments of the Programme for Government. Specific responsibilities include the Programme for Research in Third Level institutions, promoting industry collaboration with the Third Level sector, transforming Research and Development activity in enterprise, realizing the commercial potential of Ireland's research, working with Science Foundation Ireland to build and excellent science base in strategic areas relevant to the competitiveness of enterprise, and a range of other non-legislative functions.

Delegation of Functions Orders giving effect to these functions were signed by An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, T.D., on 24 May 2011.

Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 216: To ask the Minister for Jobs; Enterprise and Innovation the level of participation and responsibility of each Minister of State in his Department in relation to attendance at Ministerial Councils for which he has responsibility since the formation of the Government; if he will list all such meetings which have taken place and the Minister in attendance at each meeting [17063/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department has the lead responsibility for the Competitiveness Council and for the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (ESPHCA). When the Foreign Affairs Council considers trade matters, such matters also come within the remit of my Department.

The Competitiveness Council itself is sub-divided into industry, internal market and research issues.

The following Tables list the number of Formal and Informal Competitiveness Council meetings, ESPHCA meetings and Foreign Affairs (Trade) Council meetings and attendees or otherwise for the period 9 March 2011 to 27 June 2011.