Vol. 421 No. 9
6 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach if, in view of the recommendation of the Culliton Review Group that a separate Cabinet position be given overall responsibility for economic development and industrial planning, he intends to introduce such a reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
There is no specific recommendation in the report of the Industrial Policy Review Group that a separate Cabinet position be given overall responsibility for economic development and industrial planning.
I was hoping the Taoiseach would not give me that kind of reply. I deliberately framed the question in the way I did lest he would think I was engaged in any special pleading to upgrade the present Minister for Industry and Commerce who is performing so well at another venue in his own interests, if not in the interests of the Government. Let me put the question in another way to the Taoiseach. Does he agree with the recommendation in the Culliton report that the focus in the Department of Industry and Commerce should be changed to concentrate on industrial development and that certain specific administrative and regulatory functions currently within the aegis of the Department of Industry and Commerce should be taken away from it, with the general conclusion that Irish administrative policy is very weak generally in terms of policy formation and that the agencies charged with implementing industrial policy suffer as a result of this clear lack of direction in policy?
I am surprised at what the Deputy says in relation to the reply I gave because his question is very specific, that a separate Cabinet position be given overall responsibility in view of the recommendation in the Culliton report. There is no such recommendation in the Culliton report to recommend the setting up of a special Cabinet position. That is clear. The first report of the task force has been submitted to the Minister for Industry and Commerce who, when he finishes his consideration of it, will be bringing it before the Government and the Cabinet sub-committee for implementation purposes. As soon as that arrives the Government will, in due course, make their own decisions after completing their own deliberations.
Does the Taoiseach agree that if the recommendations contained in chapter 9 of the Culliton report were to be implemented it would change completely the present role of the Department of Industry and Commerce and would effectively mean a specific Ministry for industrial development? Having regard to the crisis in unemployment and the bad value we have got for money spent on industrial development over the past 15 years, does he agree that there is a necessity for someone at Government level to take overall responsibility for policy direction in the area of industrial and economic development?
I think the recommendation to which the Deputy is referring is contained in paragraph 9.3 of the report. It recommends that a task force be appointed to report to me, as Taoiseach. This is the type of action the Government have taken in this respect. I believe this course of action was recommended because of the activities of a wide range of Government Departments which have a significant impact on industrial policy. They believe that a task force should be set up under the chairmanship of the Taoiseach of the day to ensure implementation of the recommendations they have put forward. As I said, I think the Deputy was referring to paragraph 9.3 of the report.
Ceist a seacht.
May I——
A brief question, Deputy Rabbitte. There are many other questions to be disposed of.
I appreciate that, Sir. Does the Taoiseach agree, on reflection, that I am dealing with paragraph 9.1 of the report? Does he recall that that paragraph specifically recommends the Department of Industry and Commerce should redefine their role so that the focus for industrial development is not as diffuse and potentially wasteful as it is at present?
This matter will be deliberated on by the Government in due course. So far as the Government are concerned, industrial policy has to be about low inflation, competitiveness, investment, taxation and working conditions. The Government have to coordinate all these issues to ensure the pursuance of a very successful industrial policy. The setting up of a task force under the chairmanship of the Taoiseach of the day to ensure implementation of the recommendations is the proper way to proceed. Undoubtedly this signifies changes in the pursuit of industrial objectives by the Department of Industry and Commerce.
Ar aghaidh go dtí ceist a seacht. The questions we are about to embark upon are priority questions for which 15 minutes only are provided for in the Standing Orders of this House.
