Máirín Quill
Question:41 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if he will give details of the responsibilities and functions he has and those of his Ministers of State.
Written Answers. - Ministerial Responsibilities.
I have assigned specific responsibilities to the two Ministers of State appointed by the Government to my Department as follows:
Mrs. Mary O'Rourke, TD, Minister for Labour Affairs has responsibility for the following specific areas: Labour Legislation; EC Affairs including Social Charter; European Social Affairs Council; Health and Safety; Redundancy Insolvency and Work Sharing; Training contracts, introduction of new apprenticeship system and arrangements for initial vocational education and training, and Consumer Protection.
Mr. Seamus Brennan, TD, Minister for Commerce and Technology has responsibility for the following specific areas:
Commerce: Insurance — Supervision of Solvency of Insurance Companies; Insurance — Supervision of Cost of Affairs of Insurance; Competition Policy, including the Competition Authority; Mergers and Takeovers; Company Law; Companies Registration Office; Registry of Friendly Societies, and Irish Steel.
Technology: National and International Programme in Science and Technology; EOLAS Policy and Administration, including Standards and Quality.
While I as Minister for Enterprise and Employment will continue to be responsible in a corporate manner for areas assigned to Ministers of State, I will retain specific responsibility for: Industrial Relations and Pay Policy; Employment and Industrial Policy; Structural Funds; Enterprise Policy at local level — County Enterprise Partnership Boards and Area Partnerships.