Written Answers. - Policy Initiatives.
Mary O'Rourke
Question:
132
Mrs. O'Rourke
asked the
Minister for Enterprise and Employment
what consultancies, task forces, reviews, action committee, review group and special reports, if any, are being undertaken by any sector either within his Department or under the aegis of his Department; and the costs of such work.
[3318/96]
I take it that the Deputy is seeking to elicit information relating to policy or management initiatives of a significant kind, as distinct from more day-to-day matters. The information set out below relates to initiatives coming under my direct responsibility. Statutory agencies associated with my Department, e.g. Office of Consumer Affairs, Companies Registration Office, Patents Office, Forbairt etc., may have initiatives of their own which would come within their own responsibility.
1. Commercial Regulation
(a) In progress.
Commission on the Newspaper Industry
The Commission, under the chairmanship of the former Chief Justice, Mr. Thomas Finlay, was asked to examine, report and make recommendations about a wide range of issues affecting the newspaper industry. The commission, which held its first meeting in September, is continuing with its work. To assist the commission in its deliberations certain consultancy studies have been commissioned at an approximate cost of £58,000.
Entirely separate from the above the Department has also commissioned an economic analysis of the market for newspapers at a cost of circa £5,000.
Insurance Costs
Consultants have been engaged to prepare an economic evaluation of insurance costs in Ireland. This work has been costed at £99,825, (VAT inclusive).
(b) Planned
Company Law Review Group
The first report of the Company Law Review Group has been completed and consideration is being given to undertaking a second phase by the review group.
Competition and Mergers Review Group
I also intend to establish, (after the Competition (Amendment) Bill, 1994 has been enacted) a Competition and Mergers Review Group to examine and make appropriate recommendations on the effectiveness of competition legislation generally and mergers legislation in particular. The group has a budget provision of £20,000.
2. Labour Market Issues
(a) In progress
A number of initiatives are planned or under way as follows:
An internal review is under way of national policy in the area of human resources development. This will result in the publication of a White Paper on Human Resources Development.
The Department has recruited an external consultant to advise on certain aspects of human resources development. The final cost is estimated at £2,000-£2,500. The results of this consultancy are expected shortly.
The planning unit of my Department has been engaged for some months in a review of labour market strategy which I hope to publish shortly. While the majority of the work has been carried out in-house, some costs will arise in relation to preparation of the document for publication. These costs are not likely to exceed £2,500.
Work sharing
Two interdepartmental committees examining various aspects of work sharing policy are due to complete their work shortly and proposals are to be submitted to Government on the matter before the end of April.
(b) Planned
An external consultancy study of FÁS is planned for the near future. The precise terms of reference for this study have yet to be agreed after which the necessary tendering process will get under way. The cost of the study will depend on the terms of reference and results of the tendering process.
3. Enterprise
(a) In progress
Enterprise Strategy
Work is nearing completion on a review of enterprise strategy which will seek to consolidate and progress policy in this area. A consultant has been engaged to assist in aspects of this work at a cost of approximately £11,000.
SME's
The consultancy unit of the Department is currently undertaking a survey of the equity capital needs of Irish SMEs.
A review of the subsidised loans scheme for Irish SMEs (SBELs) is currently being considered. A decision on when or whether it will proceed is likely to be taken shortly, but will depend on the available data to assess performance.
Information Technology
The Consultative Committee on Software provides an ongoing forum in which the Department of Enterprise and Employment and representatives from industry, higher education and the state agencies concerned with the development of the software sector can meet to discuss issues related to the software sector. There are no costs associated with the operation of the Consultative Committee on Software. I propose to establish in the near future a committee for the development of a national information society strategy and action plan. Until details have been finalised it is not possible to give a reliable estimate of the cost of the proposed committee.
Science and Technology
A task force was set up by the Government in May 1995 to advise on how best to progress the STIAC report and how its 160 recommendations could be brought forward for implementation. Their report, presented to Government in November 1995, will be used as a basis for the Government response to the STIAC report. The response will be published within the next few months.
The work of the task force did not involve any additional expenditure as the members were already paid by the State.
Partnership
An advisory group on partnership and change is working with the unit for partnership in enterprise, which was established in March 1995 to encourage the development of partnership at the level of the enterprise. Costs to date associated with the group's work amount to £404.
(b) Planned
Enterprise and the Environment
The establishment of a task force on enterprise and the environment was announced at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Sustainable Development. The terms of reference for the task force and the composition of its membership are currently under consideration. A budget of £15,000 has been allocated.
4. Management
Strategic Management Initiative
As part of the Strategic Management Initiative in the Civil Service, my Department has undertaken a number of initiatives to improve its own operation. These relate to all aspects of management, including mission and objectives, organisation, human resources, communications and resources and outputs. While most of this work is being carried out in-house, some external consultancy involvement has been necessary. The cost of the consultancy work carried out to date has been in the order of £20,000.
