Vol. 495 No. 7
59 Mr. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans, if any, she has to protect and develop Irish trade in the United Kingdom, United States and other non-euro currency areas following the introduction of the euro on 1 January 1999. [21152/98]
Enterprise Ireland is active in raising awareness among its clients regarding the need for planning and preparation for the introduction of the euro on 1 January 1999.
Currency fluctuations are a constant feature of international trade and Enterprise Ireland works with individual companies engaged in international trade to ensure that they have taken the necessary steps to cover themselves against possible losses.
A report prepared by Forfás in April 1998 outlines specifically the actions businesses can take to cope with sterling fluctuations outside of the Euro and an abbreviated version has been districuted as part of the euro awareness campaign.
Enterprise Ireland, is a member of the EMU Inter-Agency Committee which agrees the initiatives to be taken and coordinates the approach and the activities of the development agencies in their dealings with client companies and business sectors on EMU. Given that ongoing survey results indicate that small companies are under prepared, the focus of this group is regionally based small business.
A number of specific initiatives have been introduced by Enterprise Ireland to help companies with their EMU preparations. These include, the provision of a euromentor through which a trained mentor is allocated to a company to work through the issues and advise on stragetic and operational problems, the development of a software tool to ascertain companies sensitivity to sterling/other currency fluctuations and the former Irish Trade Board publication on EMU for exporters has been widely circulated.
60 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has received a report from the group set up to examine companies' compliance with the Companies Acts, 1963 to 1990, chaired by Mr. M. McDowell, SC; and, if so, the actions, if any, she proposes to take on foot of this report. [21740/98]
103 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress, if any, being made by the company law review group headed by Mr. M. McDowell, Senior Counsel. [21142/98]
136 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has received a report from the group set up to examine companies' compliance with the Companies Acts, 1963 to 1990, chaired by Mr. M. McDowell, SC: and, if so, the actions, if any, she proposes to take on foot of this report. [21843/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 60, 103 and 136 together.
Together with my colleague, Deputy Noel Treacy, Minister of State with responsibility for science, technology and commerce, I announced the establishment of a working group on company law compliance and enforcement on 7 August 1998.
The purpose of the working group is to advise on improving compliance with and enforcement of company law, and, in particular, to review the compliance arrangements and enforcement regimes for company law; to evaluate the legislative, organisational and resource issues affecting compliance and enforcement; to examine and identify the resources and structures necessary to achieve a more frequent updating of companies legislation; and to make appropriate recommendations to address these issues.
The group was requested to report by 30 November 1998.
No interim reports have been submitted by the group. The group is proceeding with their work with a view to submitting its report by the set deadline.
