Written Answers. - Advice to Department.
Edward Nealon
Question:
69
Mr. Nealon
asked the
Taoiseach
the title and terms of reference of each commission, committee, working group or other similar body set up since 1 January 1986 to advise him on the policy or functions of his Department; the nature of each body, that is, whether it is permanent or ad hoc; when each ad hoc body reported; its recommendations; and the action, if any, which has been taken or is being taken in regard to same.
The following schedule sets out the information requested by the Deputy in respect of each commission committee, working group or other similar body set up since 1 January 1986 to advise on the policy or functions of my Department.
1. Temporary Advisory Committee on the proposed National Gallery-Museum of Modern Art:
This Committee was established in January 1988 to advise on the arrangements for the establishment and running of the proposed Gallery-Museum. The committee prepared a report (26 April 1988) on the administrative structure, funding and staffing of the Gallery which has been used as a basis for the establishment of the new Irish Museum of Modern Art.
2. Irish Museum of Modern Art Management Group:
A Management Group which will establish the Irish Museum of Modern Art and oversee necessary adaptation works there was appointed in November 1989. This group will shortly be incorporated in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham Company on the completion by the existing Board of its term of office.
3. The National Archives Advisory Council:
The National Archives Advisory Council is established under Section 20 of the National Archives Act, 1986, and was constituted in February 1987. Its function is to advise the Taoiseach in the exercise of his powers under the Act and on all matters affecting archives and their use by the public.
The Annual Report of the Council is due shortly.
4. The National Statistics Board:
Status
The Board was established in February 1986 as an interim non-statutory board pending legislation to establish it on a statutory basis.
Functions
The functions of the Board are to:
(a) establish priorities for the compilation and development of official statistics;
(b) assess the resources of staff, equipment and finance which should be made available for the compilation of official statistics; and
(c) arbitrate on any conflicts which may arise between the CSO and any other public authority relating to the extraction of statistics from the records of the public authority.
Reports
The Board has issued two reports to date.
(1) Report of the National Statistics Board Strategy for Statistics 1988-1992 (published in May 1988).
(2) 1989 Annual Report of the National Statistics Board Implementation of Strategy for Statistics 1988-1992 (published in June 1988).
Both of these reports have been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
Recommendations
The recommendations made by the Board in its first report as follows:
(1) The CSO should carry out the following large-scale periodical inquiries during 1988-1992:
— an EC labour costs survey
— a census of agriculture
— a census of population;
(2) A significant improvement of statistics for the service sectors;
(3) A strengthening of the balance of payments statistics;
(4) The introduction of a mainly postalbased agricultural statistics enumeration system;
(5) Improvement of the annual national accounts; and
(6) Development of a combined trade-industrial production classification to maximise the usefulness of trade and production statistics.
Action taken on these recommendations
The action taken to date on these recommendations is fully outlined in Chapter 2 of the Board's 1989 Annual Report which is in the Oireachtas Library. A brief summary of the action is as follows:
(1) The Government has given approval for the carrying out of censuses of population and agriculture in 1991.
— An EC labour cost survey was undertaken in 1988 and summary results will issue by mid-1990
— A new quarterly employment in earnings inquiry for the financial services sector was released in January 1990.
(2) A census of services was carried out as planned and results will issue later this year.
(3) Negotiation is currently under way with the EC Commission to secure financing for the development of specific aspects of Balance of Payments statistics methodology.
(4) It is planned to stage a census of agriculture in conjunction with the census of population in 1991 at a saving of £1.6 million.
(5) A consultant is currently engaged in compiling an input-output table. This development will provide for the application of the input-output approach to the compilation of the national accounts.
(6) It is planned to complete this project jointly with the conversion to the new NACE (EC Nomenclature of Economic Activities) which is being developed in parallel with the UN classification ISIC (International Standard Industrial Classification). A draft regulation on the NACE is currently under discussion at Working Party level. When passed this will make the adoption of national nomenclatures based on the revised NACE mandatory with effect from 1 January 1993.
5.National Heritage
(a) A temporary Committee was established in April 1988 to advise on the establishment of a National Heritage Council. This Committee reported in June 1988 and its report was the basis for the National Heritage Council.
(b)National Heritage Council
(i)Terms of reference: The National Heritage Council is a non statutory body, established by the Taoiseach in 1988 to formulate policies and priorities for the preservation and enhancement of Ireland's heritage. The Council's specific areas of responsibility are archaeology, architecture, flora and fauna, landscape, heritage gardens and certain inland waterways.
The Council is responsible to the Taoiseach and the Minister of State at the Department of Finance has general responsibility for its affairs. The Council is responsible for allocating funds which were set aside from the national lottery for heritage purposes.
In addition to its general mandate the Council has the following particular functions:
1. to formulate policies and priorities for the identification, protection, preservation and enhancement of Ireland's cultural and natural heritage;
2. to actively promote among the general public and interest and pride in our heritage and to facilitate the appreciation and enjoyment of it;
3. to work closely with and to make recommendations to Government Departments, planning authorities, public bodies and State companies in relation to all matters coming within the Council's general area of responsibility and to ensure the co-ordination of all activities in the heritage field.
4. to decide on the distribution of moneys allocated for heritage work subject to the approval of the Taoiseach and to decide on priorities for such expenditure.
5. to advise the Government on the drafting of the legislation for the establishment of the National Heritage Council on a permanent basis.
(ii)Nature: the council is a non-statutory body and the intention is to place it on a statutory basis as soon as possible.
(iii)Reports:
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1. July 1989:
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Report to the Taoiseach on the requirements for a statutory Heritage Council.
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Present Position:
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heads of legislation are in preparation.
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2. Sept. 1989:
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21-23 Upper Merrion Street, Dublin report on the conservation and preservation conditions to be attached to the sale of the Georgian Terraces at 21-23 Upper Merrion Street, Dublin.
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Present Position:
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Being considered by the Government.
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3. Oct. 1989:
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Report to the Taoiseach on the National Botanic Gardens.
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The principal recommendations relate to the ministerial responsibility for the Gardens, and to strengthening the scientific, horticultural and amenity role of the Gardens.
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Present Position:
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the recommendations are under consideration at present.
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6.Committee to advise the Taoiseach on the adaptation of the College of Science for use by him and his Department.
This Committee was set up on 27 October 1987. It is comprised of representatives of the Departments of the Taoiseach, Finance, Justice, Defence and the Office of Public Works under the Chairmanship of the Department of the Taoiseach. The work of the Committee is ongoing.
Roinn na Gaeltachta
I mí Márta 1986 bhunaigh na hÁirí Gaeltachta agus Cumarsáide Meitheal Oibread hoc leis na téarmaí tagartha seo a leanas.
"Scrúdú a dhéanamh agus tuairisc a thabhairt:
(1) ar na gcomhdhéanamh a bheadh ar raon sásúil de chláir Ghaeilge ar theilifís, in éagmais seirbhíse Gaeilge ar leith, ó thaobh ábhair agus toirte ag féachaint d'aidhmeanna RTÉ agus dá bhfuil curtha i gcríoch acu.
(2) ar na himpleachtaí teicniúla, airgeadais agus eile, a bhainfeadh le raon clár dá shamhail a sholáthar trí úsáid a bhaint as na háiseanna atá ag Radio Telefís Éireann faoi láthair agus a thionchar sin ar ghníomhaíochtaí eile RTÉ agus ar a ioncaim fógraíochta.
(3) ar na himpleachtaí ó thaobh teichniúlachta, airgeadais, ullmhú chlár agus eile a bhainfeadh le seirbhís teilifíse lán-Ghaeilge a chur ar fáil."
Foilsíodh tuarascáil chuimsitheach na Meithle mí Bealtaine 1987 agus tá na moltaí ann maraon le moltaí eile maidir le Teilifís na Gaeltachta á meas i láthair na huaire i gcomhairle leis an Roinn Cumarsáide.
Tá na moltaí i dtuarascáil na Meithle ro-éagsúil le tabhairt go gonta anseo agus déanfaidh mé socrú go gcuirfear cóip den tuarascáil chuig an Teachta.
