Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Mar 1995

Vol. 450 No. 6

Written Answers. - Advisory Committee Report.

Ned O'Keeffe

Question:

154 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment when he intends placing the Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Committee report before Dáil Éireann in view of the fact that the report was completed before the end of 1994. [5348/95]

Ned O'Keeffe

Question:

155 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the continuing delay in the production of the Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Committee report is exacerbating the confusion which already exists between the office of Science and Technology and Forbairt over who is responsible for and takes decisions on science and technology matters. [5349/95]

Ned O'Keeffe

Question:

156 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if he will give an assurance that any moneys he proposed to spend in implementing the recommendations of the Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Committee report will be additional to those already committed to existing science and technology projects in 1995. [5350/95]

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. R. Bruton)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 154, 155 and 156 together.

The Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council was established to carry out the most fundamental and wide-ranging review of science, technology and innovation ever undertaken in this country. The report is, therefore, a complex and comprehensive one. The Minister for Commerce, Science and Technology received the report on 12 January 1995 and has been engaged in an initial examination of it, including consideration of an appropriate mechanism for examining its 150 or so recommendations. He has consulted other Government Departments and is in the process of bringing the report to Government. After its consideration by the Government, he expects to publish the report, probably within the next three weeks. At the same time, copies will be supplied to the Oireachtas Library.

I do not accept the view that there is confusion between the Office of Science and Technology (OST) and Forbairt regarding responsibility for science and technologymatters. The OST is clearly responsible for science and technology policy matters both generally and relating to the science and technology programmes it funds. Forbairt is responsible for the management and implementation of these programmes. In some cases committee structures are in place, including representatives of the OST and Forbairt, to ensure that the translation of policy into implementation avoids any such confusion. In that context, and as stated above, the Minister for Commerce, Science and Technology does not accept that there is any delay in the production of the STIAC report or that its pending publication detracts from the ongoing policy formulation or implementation of science and technology programmes. In so far as the STIAC makes any recommendations which impact on this question these will have to be considered by the Government in the follow-up to the report, taking account of the views of Forbairt and the Office of Science and Technology.

As regards moneys, the Minister for Commerce, Science and Technology, expects, on publication of the report, to announce a mechanism through which the STIAC recommendations will be considered and decided upon by Government. The question of the additionality of such funds as may be necessary to implement recommendations adopted by the Government, and indeed the source of such funds, will obviously be a major factor in the deliberations on the recommendations in any event, and I do not propose to anticipate those deliberations.