John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 236: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his response to a submission made to him dated 9 August 2011 from an organisation (details supplied); if the issues raised have been sorted or resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31479/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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A comprehensive response to the submission from the Electro-Technical Council of Ireland (ETCI) was sent to Mr Hanly on 5 October. In relation to the issues raised in the submission, in particular, international memberships, the position is that the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) took the view that, given the extent of the public funding, both direct and indirect, provided by it for the work of the ETCI, a private company, that it would be more appropriate and transparent if NSAI took over the international memberships directly. As Ireland's National Standards Body, set up under the NSAI Act of 1996, it is entirely appropriate that NSAI is the member of these organisations while the ETCI functions as the sectoral committee. This shift in membership secures Ireland's membership of these international institutions for the future. I understand that the NSAI and the ETCI have concluded a Memorandum of Agreement under which NSAI has taken over as the Irish member of the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

The submission also raised concerns about the enforcement of Health and Safety legislation and I am informed that senior executives of ETCI recently met with the Health and Safety Authority to discuss this matter. As the issues concerning the Commission for Energy Regulation fall within the remit of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, the submission was forwarded to that Department for consideration and direct reply to the Deputy's correspondent.