Vol. 416 No. 6
159 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will set out the legislative and administrative priorities of his Department following his appointment as Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I attach a high priority to getting progress on the implementation of the report of the Industrial Policy Review Group. A task force has been established to assist in that process.
Other administrative priorities include monitoring and reviewing policies, measures and performance in relation to departmental programmes, including those for industry, marketing, technology development and aspects of company law, including the investigation procedures allowed for thereunder; participation in the development and implementation of EC policies, programmes and legislation; negotiation of a satisfactory outcome of trade negotiations under the Uruguay Round of GATT; and ensuring that competitive forces operate in the interests of economic efficiency, consumers and the general competitiveness of Irish business.
I have already replied to a question on 18 February 1992 on my intentions with respect to transposing EC legislation into Irish law which constitute my legislative priorities.
160 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will outline the precise actions he intends to take now to promote equality within his Department in general and in particular to promote qualified women to higher posts within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
In 1986, my Department issued to all staff, a copy of the general Civil Service guidelines on equal opportunity. These guidelines have been implemented and are being constantly monitored by the Department's personnel unit.
My Department have also appointed an equality officer who has responsibility for advising staff on its equal opportunity policy. In addition, equal opportunity for all staff is highlighted in the context of the Department's training and staff development programme.
In relation to promotion, it is the policy of my Department to assess an officer's suitability for promotion on the basis of merit regardless of his or her sex.
161 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will define the new and existing responsibilities of the Minister of State within his Department following the recent changes in the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The responsibilities of the new Minister of State at my Department with responsibility for Trade and Marketing and Science and Technology are unchanged from those attaching to their predecessors, except for the addition of responsibility for consumer protection to the Minister for Trade and Marketing.
The responsibilities of the Minister for Trade and Marketing include leading the Government's efforts to promote, develop and assist the marketing of Irish goods and services, particularly on foreign markets. This entails, in particular, overseeing the activities of An Bord Tráchtála in identifying market opportunities and in the development of the marketing capabilities of Irish firms.
The responsibilities of the Minister for Science and Technology involve the encouragement of industrially-relevant science and technology activity to meet the needs of industry. This includes programmes aimed at increasing the level of technological expertise in Irish firms with a view to bringing to commercial viability a number of research projects and programmes in various fields of advanced technological endeavour. The responsibilities of the Minister for Science and Technology include supervision of the activities of EOLAS, the Irish Science and Technology Agency.
