Written answers

Tuesday, 24 January 2012

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation

State Agencies

9:00 pm

Photo of Mary Lou McDonaldMary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 300: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the measures that have been put in place to date with regard to rationalisation of the State bodies under his aegis listed in Appendix IIA of the Government statement on public service reform as announced on 17 November 2011. [4541/12]

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 301: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will outline the projected savings for each State agency to be rationalised as set out in the recent public service reform plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4567/12]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 300 and 301 together.

There are eight Bodies under the aegis of my Department listed in Appendix IIA of the Government Statement on Public Service Reform and the current position with regard to their proposed rationalisation is set out below.

The National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority are to be merged. As both agencies are established under statute, it is necessary to give effect to the newly merged body by way of primary legislation. In July 2011, Government approval of the drafting of this legislation was obtained and the Bill is expected to be published later this year.

In the meantime the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency are actively working together to plan for the proposed amalgamation so that as much of the preparatory work as possible is done by the time the implementing legislation is enacted. The recently appointed Chairperson of the Competition Authority was also appointed as the Chairperson designate of the new body.

As both agencies are currently operating well below the staffing complement which pertained in 2008 when the merger was first announced, no actual staff savings are envisaged. Some additional costs may arise in relation to such issues as accommodation, IT, etc. Due to the proposed structure of the merged body, savings of approximately €170,000 per annum will be achieved as there will be no fees for a Board or Chairperson to be paid (or associated costs such as travel and subsistence for Board members). In relation to the various bodies dealing with employment rights and industrial relations disputes, I have announced my intention to streamline the structures and procedures in place to create a simplified two-tiered structure comprising a single body of first instance adjudication and a single body of appeal. Four of the existing bodies (the Employment Appeals Tribunal, the National Employment Rights Authority, the Labour Relations Commission and the Labour Court) are currently within my remit. The Equality Tribunal is currently within the remit of the Minister for Justice and Equality, but plans to transfer its functions across to my Department are at an advanced stage.

I expect this major reform and streamlining project to deliver a measurable improvement in the quality of services provided to users of the State's employment rights/industrial relations dispute resolution services, providing a cheaper and more efficient at less cost to the State. While it is not possible to be precise in terms of the savings to be achieved from the project, they are likely to be considerable.

Already the project has provided some significant early progress and has contributed to an improved service. So far, achievements have included the development of a single complaint form for use in all existing bodies, the establishment of a single portal of entry for all claims, and the creation of a centralised website, containing all relevant information on employment right and industrial relation. Work will continue in 2012 on improving these facilities and looking at other aspects of this project.

In relation to Forfás, it is proposed to integrate the policy advisory and research functions of that Agency into my Department. A group comprised of senior officials from my Department and Forfás will be established shortly to examine and progress this proposal. It is not possible at this stage to identify the level of savings that would be realised in implementing this proposal. Additionally, various options are being considered by my Department in relation to the restructuring of the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs). It is my intention, however, to ensure that any opportunity presented by CEB restructuring will not simply be about reducing or changing the numbers of CEBs in existence, but will be used as an opportunity to fundamentally reform, streamline and revitalise the manner in which the State supports the valuable micro-enterprise sector. Until a decision is in place on restructuring it would be premature to comment on potential savings.

Photo of Mary Lou McDonaldMary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 302: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if robust service level agreements between parent Departments and State bodies are now in place for all non-commercial State agencies. [4574/12]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Government announced in the Public Service Reform Plan on 17 November 2011, in the context of its consideration of the streamlining of State Agencies, that Service Level Agreements (SLAs) would be put in place with all Agencies by June 2012. My Department is committed to developing, as appropriate, service level agreements for the Agencies under its remit, by this deadline.

The Deputy may wish to note that, in the case of InterTradeIreland, a Financial Memorandum is in place between the Department, the Department of Finance, the Agency itself and the two equivalent Departments in the North, which sets out financial procedures and accountability arrangements. The development of a suitable Service Level Agreement with InterTradeIreland would be subject to the agreement of the Northern Departments.

At present, the Agencies under my Department's remit operate on the basis of agreed corporate business plans and/or detailed work programmes, underpinned by three-year strategies and the requirements of the governing legislation. This is supplemented by regular meetings at senior management level between the Department and the Agencies, as well as ongoing interactions on various aspects of their operations, e.g., financial reporting, staffing, etc. As part of my commitment to stronger governance of the Agencies, I will be formalising arrangements to hold biannual meetings between the Management Advisory Committee in the Department and the Heads of the Agencies to focus on achieving targets.

Photo of Kevin HumphreysKevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 303: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total amount paid in remuneration and expenses to members of publicly appointed State boards, both public sector and semi-State, in 2011; his views on whether savings can be made in this area; the number of persons in total who sit on these boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4584/12]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The information sought by the Deputy will be published in the annual reports of the agencies concerned in the normal way and I would direct the Deputy to the agencies concerned. The fees paid to members of State Boards are set down by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and have been subject to reductions with effect from January 2010.

While I will keep under review the position in relation to the numbers serving on those State Boards coming under the aegis of my Department, you will appreciate that the composition of the boards is set down in the relevant establishing legislation. My immediate priority and overriding focus at the moment is to find the best people for particular board appointments. In making appointments I have regard to the expertise and experience of individuals, the balance of skills and attributes in terms of the overall composition of the board, the gender balance of the board and the availability and commitment of people to serve on the board.

The Deputy will be aware that Government policy is to introduce greater transparency in the appointment process. In line with this policy and in an effort to broaden the pool of suitable candidates for consideration for appointment to boards, I sought expressions of interest last summer from suitably qualified people for appointment to the boards of several agencies under my Department's remit. I intend to launch another expressions of interest campaign in the near future in respect of further vacancies that have arisen or that are due to arise over the coming months.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.