Written answers
Tuesday, 29 January 2013
Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
Public Service Reform Plan Update
Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation with reference to the public service reform document published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on 17 November 2011, Appendix IIa, Bodies to be rationalised, Amalgamated or Abolished in 2012, the progress that has been made on those bodies; the changes that require legislation; the expected timeframe for conclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4290/13]
Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Public Service Reform Bodies to be rationalised, amalgamated or abolished in 2012:
Body | Action | Host Body | Progress on Action including legislative progress /timeframe for completion | Expected timeframe for conclusion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competition Authority and National Consumer Agency | Merge Competition Authority & National Consumer Agency | DJEI - Consumer and Competition Authority to be created | As both agencies were established under statute, it is necessary to give effect to the newly merged body by way of primary legislation. Government approved the draft Heads of a Bill in July 2011 and these were sent to the OPC for drafting. The Bill is now included in the A List of the Government's 2013 Legislative Programme. Meanwhile a steering group has been established comprising the two agencies and the Department to drive the preparation for the new agency and ensure a seamless transition to a unified single body to oversee the area of competition and consumer protection. | Dependent on: Date of publication of Bill. Allocation of Oireachtas time for consideration. Establishment date appointed following enactment of legislation. |
| Labour Court Labour Relations Commission National Employment Rights Authority Employment Appeals Tribunal Equality Tribunal | Rationalise the industrial relations/employee rights institutions – Labour Court, Labour Relations Commission, Employment Appeals Tribunal, National Employment Rights Authority and Equality Tribunal into a new two-tier structure. | DJEI Dept Justice & Equality | Significant progress has been made to date in terms of building the new two tier-model. These include: Two public consultation processes completed. Two policy documents published. A new single contact portal has replaced five separate entry points. A Single Complaint Form has replaced the 30 forms previously in use. A new workplace relations interim website is in place. Legislation The Minister engaged with the Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in July, 2012. The General Scheme of Bill was approved by Government, in July, for priority drafting. Enactment of the legislation will necessitate amendments to approx. 22 primary acts, 12 specified parts or sections of acts and 71 statutory instruments. The Cabinet approved the inclusion of the Workplace Relations Bill in Section A of the 2013 Spring Legislative Programme. The Minister is committed to enactment of the legislation at an early date, with a view to having the proposed new structures in place in 2013. In the meantime, the Minister continues to implement the reform programme on an administrative basis pending enactment of the Workplace Relations Bill which will give legislative effect to the new two-tier Workplace Relations structures. | This legislation appears on the A List of the 2013 Spring Session of the D/JEI Legislative Programme. Final enactment depends upon passage through the Oireachtas. |
| Forfás | Establish the scope to merge Forfás into the Department [DJEI] | DJEI | The Minister has decided to integrate the core policy functions of Forfás into the Department. An Implementation Group is overseeing the integration project in addition to the relocation of a number of functions not associated with the core policy functions of Forfás. An Executive style Board has been put in place in Forfás to oversee the transfer of the agency’s functions and responsibilities. Completion of the project will require the enactment of legislation to transfer Forfás’ functions to the Department. The next step is to identify legislative changes required to facilitate this reform and seek Government approval to initiate legislation. (Q1 2013). The legislation will be progressed with a view to enactment by year end. The project is expected to be completed by end 2013. | By end 2013 |
| County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) | Review of City and County Enterprise Boards | DJEI | Government approved the establishment of a new “one-stop-shop” micro-enterprise support structure through the dissolution of the existing CEBs and the formation of Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs). An Implementation Working Group (IWG) has been established under the chair of DJEI to oversee the practical implementation of the Government decision. Significant progress has been made on a Service Level Agreement and the development of appropriate LEO structures and functions. In November, Ministers Bruton and Perry published a Consultation Paper inviting views from interested parties by mid-January, 2013. Also in November, the Government approved the drafting, as a matter of priority, of the Industrial Development (Micro Enterprise and Small Business) Bill 2012. Parliamentary Counsel was assigned on 25th January 2013. | This legislation appears on the A List of the 2013 Spring Session of the D/JEI Legislative Programme. Final enactment depends upon passage through the Oireachtas. |
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