asked the Taoiseach if he has decided yet on a division of functions as between the Minister for Industry and Energy and the Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism; if he is aware of the continuing confusion among the public; and if he will list the State companies and agencies now attached to each Department.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Departmental Functions.
1.
This matter was settled last August and I would refer the Deputy to the Industry (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order, 1981, the Energy (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order, 1981, and the Industry, Commerce and Tourism (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order, 1981, copies of which were laid before the Houses on 20 August.
Formal statements were made at the time by both the Government and the Tánaiste and I do not accept that there is any public confusion as suggested. I will, however, for the convenience of the Deputy, circulate with the Official Report a list of the State companies and agencies which are now attached to each Department.
Following is the statement:
State companies and Agencies under the aegis of the Departments of Industry and Energy and Trade, Commerce and Tourism:
Department of Industry and Energy: Industrial Development Authority; Shannon Free Airport Development Company; Kilkenny Design Workshops; Min Fhéir (1959) Teoranta; Irish Productivity Centre; Crafts Council of Ireland; Irish Goods Council; Ceimici Teoranta; Irish Steel Limited; Institute for Industrial Research and Standards; Nitrigin Éireann Teoranta; National Film Studios of Ireland; Irish Film Board; Electricity Supply Board; Bord na Mona; Bord Gáis Éireann; Nuclear Energy Board; Irish National Petroleum Corporation; The Mining Board.
Department of Trade, Commerce and Tourism: Córas Tráchtala Teo; Bord Fáilte Éireann; Shannon Free Airport Development Co (in respect of the company's tourism related activities); Patents Office; National Prices Commission; Restrictive Practices Commission; Office of Examiner of Restrictive Practices; Companies Registration Office; Office of Registrar of Friendly Societies; Office of Director of Consumer Affairs.
Can the Taoiseach tell us which Department the Irish Goods Council are attached to?
Responsibility for the Irish Goods Council is vested in the Minister for Industry and Energy.
Would the Taoiseach not feel that the purchasing of Irish goods is a matter of trade? How does he explain that the promotion of Irish goods on the home market is attached to the Department of Industry and Energy and the promotion of Irish goods abroad through CTT is attached to the Department of Trade, Commerce and Tourism?
The Deputy has put his finger on it. The objective of the Irish Goods Council is to promote sales of Irish products on the home market and, as such, they are a supporter of Irish industry with activities including encouraging import substitution and encouraging Irish buyers to buy home produced goods.
Surely the Taoiseach will agree that Irish goods sold abroad also have to be manufactured here and are in support of Irish industry? Would he not agree that there is no logic whatever in dividing these two functions?
No, I do not, because the Irish Goods Council are concerned with import substitution in the home market and with helping industry in that regard. The selling of goods abroad is a totally different kind of activity.
Is the selling of goods abroad not in aid of Irish industry?
Import substitution does not involve the same kind of activity in relation to industry. It is of a different character.
Would the Taoiseach not agree that the real reason why this division has been made is that the Tánaiste pre-empted the council being assigned to the Department of Trade by making a statement to the effect that he intended to abolish the Irish Goods Council at a time when the Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism, as he now is, thought he was responsible for the promotion of trade, not unnaturally in view of his title?
I would not agree with that.
Why did the Tánaiste make the statement at a very early stage before this division took place that the Irish Goods Council would be examined with a view to seeing whether or not it would be continued in existence?
If the Deputy has a question to ask the Tánaiste, no doubt he will put it down to the Tánaiste.