asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he has satisfied himself that the IDA, CTT and SFADCo are fully implementing the Government decision contained in paragraph 10.11 of the White Paper on Industrial Policy that grants only be paid to companies that have effective quality control procedures in operation; if a formalised system exists in each of the agencies for determining whether applicants are fulfilling this condition; if any applicants have been refused grants because they had failed to fulfil this condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - State Agencies.
16.
The IDA, CTT and SFADCo have advised me that they are implementing the Government decision contained in paragraph 10.11 of the White Paper on Industrial Policy referred to in the Deputy's question. The manner in which the agencies operate this condition falls within the day to day administration of those bodies.
17.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if the concept of the development company has been tested by the IDA, CTT and NADCORP, in accordance with the terms of the Government decision contained in paragraph 10.16 (iv) of the White Paper on Industrial Policy; if so, how, where, when and the results, if any; and if not, the reason.
IDA's company development programme, with appropriate participation by CTT, attempts to take an overall view of a company in order to build up the necessary technical, managerial and marketing expertise within the firm. CTT's marketing schemes address specific marketing weaknesses in firms. Included in CTT's programmes are group marketing schemes which encourage firms producing complementary but non-competing goods to jointly develop new export markets by pooling resources and sharing costs.
The concept of the development company referred to by the Deputy has not been fully tested by these agencies as it is felt desirable to assess the experience obtained from the various programmes initiated by both the IDA and CTT which are aimed at building up the strengths of companies. Examples of such programmes are the company development programme and group marketing schemes.
The National Development Corporation have taken on and built upon an NEA project in the aquaculture area which adopted a development company form of approach in the provision of technical and marketing capabilities to participating companies.
NADCORP are continually examining the feasibility of undertaking similar developmental roles in other natural resources based areas, but as any investment must be on a commercial basis, a great deal of research is necessary before any such project could come to fruition.