Richard Bruton
Question:2 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the way in which the economic and social policy division of his Department relates to other Departments in regard to the implementation of policy.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Economic and Social Policy.
The economic and social policy division of my Department provides me with advice on all appropriate aspects of economic and social policy. A particular function of the division is that of acting as secretariat to the Central Review Committee of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress. In that context the division interacts with all other Departments in relation to the implementation of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress.
Why did the Taoiseach reject the recommendation by the Culliton group that the task force proposed by that group should report directly to the Taoiseach? The Culliton group considered that the more comprehensive approach to be taken to industrial policy required the central co-ordination of the Taoiseach.
That recommendation was made in the time of my predecessor. People have different approaches to policy matters. Clearly, the new Government has evolved a different approach from that of the previous Government and the results of the direction taken will become evident very shortly.
I fail to understand the Taoiseach's reply. What considerations led the Taoiseach to the decision that the proposed task force would not report directly to his own Department, given that the Culliton report argued that there would be an impetus for reform across a wide range of Departments in which action was considered necessary?
As I said in the House on many occasions, the proof of the pudding will be in the eating. Policies and developments introduced by the Minister for Enterprise and Employment will make it clear that the Government has taken the correct decision in this regard. I did not feel it necessary to hold the chairmanship of the proposed task force in my Department and I delegated that responsibility to the Department of Enterprise and Employment. The Deputy will be glad to know that the Cabinet has agreed to proceed with the recommendations of the Culliton and the Moriarty reports. The Minister will very shortly make a substantive statement on this matter.
What will be the implications for the speedy implementation of the recommendations contained in the Culliton report of the better relations, referred to by the Taoiseach, between the economic division of the Taoiseach's Department and the new Department of Enterprise and Employment?
Does the Taoiseach agree that in the past conflict between the former Department of Industry and Commerce and his Department was injurious to industrial development? I could instance issues of industrial policy, such as the proposed reorganisation of the IDA and the county enterprise teams, in relation to which conflict between the former Minister for Industry and Commerce and the Taoiseach meant that, in effect, nothing was done. Does the Taoiseach consider that the new arrangements are likely to lead to the implementation of the overdue recommendations of the Culliton report, as no action has been taken on those recommedations in the last 12 months?
The new Government is losing no time in proceeding with the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Culliton report.
What?
For a considerable time now a meeting has been held every Wednesday morning, attended by all Ministers concerned with the implementation of the recommendations. There was no need for arbitration on my part before Ministers found a solution to disputes in that regard. The agreement reached will be for the better development of industrial policy. If I recall correctly, Deputy Rabbitte in the House opposed any change to — or abolition of — the IDA. There is no conflict between my Department and the Department——
A very similar situation applied to the position of the Taoiseach——
No.
——which prevailed at that time but which mysteriously evaporated.
Certainly not. Developments have taken place through the implementation of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress. My Department has responsibility for the Programme for Economic and Social Progress. The 12 area partnership companies developed under that umbrella. The concept of the management company was expanded. That company comes under the umbrella of the Department of Enterprise and Employment, which is the way it should be. Despite the Deputy's insinuations, there is no conflict. Acceleration of implementation of the recommendations contained in the Culliton report is taking place in a spirit of partnership, this will be demonstrated very shortly.
There may be no conflict but there has been an unnecessary delay for more than 12 months. Whatever the cause of that delay, it is disgraceful in the context of the unemployment problem.
The Deputy should not ask me about the delay.