I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 11, 12 and 14 together.
I announced the establishment of the Industrial Policy Review Group on 27 June 1991. The terms of reference of the review group are as follows:
to review and make recommendations on industrial policy in Ireland and on public policy generally as it affects industrial development. The review should address particularly the internationally trading indigenous industrial sector and, where possible, identify policies and measures to be adopted which would form the basis for the development of this sector over the medium to long term, with a view to increasing employment and wealth creation. For this purpose, industry includes internationally traded services.
The scope of the review will be wide-ranging as the terms of reference indicate. It is envisaged that the group will undertake their work over a six month period. The group held their first meeting yesterday, 8 July.
I would expect that the report of the group will be published soon after its completion. The group is composed of people with outstanding experience across a range of business sectors, in economic analysis and in industrial relations and development planning. The members were selected on the basis of the range of skills and experience which they can bring to the task which has been set for them and the potential which they possess to bring fresh thinking to the whole area of industrial policy.
It will be a matter for the review group to decide on their own procedures and the extent to which they wish to employ consultants. I have indicated to the group that they will have access to the resources required for this purpose.
The Task Force on Employment was established following discussions between the Government, trade unions and employers under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress. The task force, who operate under the aegis of the Central Review Committee for that programme, are examining the present job situation in depth and, in particular, exploring what factors are impeding or delaying job creation. Their remit extends far beyond the industrial sector but the task force will be able to identify issues for the consideration of the Industrial Policy Review Group.
The review group do not in any way exclude contributions by public sector companies. Public sector companies will be facilitated in any submissions they wish to make to the review group and I would expect that such submissions will make a valuable contribution to the deliberations of the group.