asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if a full-time chief executive officer was appointed to the National Enterprise Agency during the past 18 months; and, if not, the reason.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Enterprise Agency.
23.
An acting chief executive officer was appointed to the National Enterprise Agency in October 1983 on a short-term contractual basis. A permanent appointment would be inappropriate at this stage in view of the Government's intention to establish a National Development Corporation to replace the National Enterprise Agency.
The Minister's reply was very rapid but I got the general impression there has been an acting chief executive officer for the past 18 months. However, when the Minister came into office they were in the final stages of choosing a chief executive officer for the National Enterprise Agency. Will he say why he did not proceed with the appointment of a chief executive officer and, secondly, will he tell the House if he sees a role for the National Enterprise Agency?
In October 1983 the NEA recruited the man in question as acting chief executive on a part-time basis — in fact, four days per week. He has been doing that work quite vigorously and I met him on a number of occasions. Some other staff have been employed on short-term contracts to assist him in his work. As I will indicate in response to the next question, I am quite happy that the National Enterprise Agency are doing valuable work. I hope that, in the relatively near future, they will be incorporated in the National Development Corporation which will have a somewhat wider mandate. I intend that the work which the NEA are doing will continue under the aegis of the NDC. That is the best way to proceed at this stage.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.