Written Answers. - Departmental Bodies.
Ruairí Quinn
Question:
65
Mr. Quinn
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
the committees, boards, companies or other bodies under the auspices of her Department which it is proposed to establish; if it is intended that each such body will have a statutory basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[7105/02]
Ruairí Quinn
Question:
66
Mr. Quinn
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
the committees, boards, companies or other bodies under the auspices of her Department which were established otherwise than pursuant to statute or statutory instruments; if there are proposals to have the body in question given a statutory basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[7120/02]
Ruairí Quinn
Question:
67
Mr. Quinn
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
the committees, boards, companies or other bodies under the auspices of her Department which were established pursuant to statutory instrument; the particulars of the statutory instrument in each case; if there are proposals to have the body in question given a basis in statute as opposed to statutory instrument; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[7135/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 to 67, inclusive, together.
The following are details of the committees, boards, companies or other bodies which the Deputy requires:
Existing – Non-statutory1. Review Group on Auditing. I established the review group on auditing following the first report by the Committee of Public Accounts of the parliamentary inquiry into DIRT, which proposed that a number of areas of possible reform in the auditing profession should be examined. It is not proposed to establish this body on a statutory basis.
2. CROlink. CROlink the Companies Registration Office Users' Council, was established in January 1996. There are no proposals to give CROlink a statutory basis.
3. The Foreign Earnings Committee was established by Government decision in 1993, and further restructured in 1994. Its function is to assume responsibility for co-ordinating the promotional activities of all the agencies and Departments with representation overseas.
4. The Asia Pacific Strategy Group was established under the auspices of the Foreign Earnings Committee following the adoption by the Government of the strategy for long-term development of foreign earnings in Asia in 1999. It oversees the implementation of the strategy.
5. The Trade Advisory Forum is a consultative body chaired by the Minister of State with responsibility for Labour, Trade and Consumer Affairs. Its purpose is to provide a forum for consultation between the export sector and the relevant Departments and State agencies and to act in an advisory capacity to the Minister in determining policy.
As bodies numbered three to five serve consultative or co-ordination functions, they do not have a statutory basis and it is not intended to give them one.
6. An inter-Departmental and Agency Group was established on a non-statutory basis to oversee Ireland's participation in EXPO 2000. The group's mandate came to an end following the conclusion of EXPO 2000 in October 2000. The question of establishing the group on a statutory basis, does not, therefore arise.
7. The Competition and Mergers Review Group, the report of which I published on 4 May 2000 was established by my predecessor in September 1996. This group finalised its work in 2000.
8. The European Consumer Centre offers advice to consumers on their rights in respect of both domestic and EU legislation as well as being a resource location for information on cross-Border consumer protection matters. The centre was first launched in December 1996 and since January 1999 it operates as an independent company. There are no proposals to have it given a statutory basis.
9. Patents Office Users Council. In 1997, the Minister for Enterprise and Employment established the Patents Office Users Council to consider and report to the Minister on the administration of industrial property protection by the Patents Office and to advise on appropriate changes and innovations in the operation of the office. There are no proposals to give a statutory basis to the Patents Office Users Council at this time.
10. Code of Practice on Unsolicited Commercial Communications Committee. The Committee was established to examine the feasibility of a code of practice that would complement the legislation giving effect to the provisions on unsolicited commercial communications in the Electronic Commerce Directive. The draft legislation to give effect to the directive is with the Attorney General for approval. The code of practice committee hopes to complete its work this year. This is a non-statutory group and will remain so.
11. On 22 February 2000 a Timber Industry Development Group was launched. There are no proposals to give the group a statutory basis.
12. The e-Work Action Forum was established to provide a focal point for the ongoing development of an environment which will stimulate telework/e-work employment opportunities and ensure that this method of working achieves its full potential in contributing to economic growth and an improved quality of life. The forum was established on a non-statutory basis and it is not intended to establish it on a statutory basis.
13. The National Competitiveness Council was established on a non-statutory basis. There is no intention of giving it statutory backing.
14. A National Minimum Wage Monitoring Committee has been set up to monitor implementation of the provision of the National Minimum Wage Act. There are no plans to give the committee a statutory basis.
15. The National Framework Committee on Family Friendly Policies was established in July 2000 to identify actions to be undertaken by the social partners at national level that support family friendly policies in the workplace. There are no plans to give the committee a statutory basis.
16. The Monitoring Group on the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997. There are no plans to have this group placed on a statutory basis.
17. Tripartite Group on the Fixed-Term Work Directive (Directive 1999/70/EC of 28 June 1999). There are no plans to have this group placed on a statutory basis.
18. Monitoring Group on the Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act, 1996. There are no plans to have this group placed on a statutory basis.
19. The Task Force on the Prevention of Workplace Bullying and the Review Group on Public Safety were both established otherwise than pursuant to statute or statutory instrument. There are no proposals to place either body on a statutory basis.
20. An Interdepartmental Committee on Science and Technology has been established. There are no plans to give it a statutory basis.
21. A Technology Foresight Advisory Group on Implementation was established on a non-statutory basis in March 2000. This report was noted by the Government in October, 2000. The work of the group has been completed.
22. An Inter-Departmental Group on Modern Biotechnology has been established. There are no plans to give it a statutory basis.
23. A PPF Standing Committee on Labour Market Issues has been established. There are no plans for establishing it on a statutory basis.
24. Taskforce on Lifelong Learning. As provided for under Framework IV of the PPF, my Department established in early 2000, a lifelong learning taskforce, in collaboration with the Department of Education and Science which involves representation from relevant stakeholders and includes representatives of the social partners. This taskforce will report to Government shortly. There are no plans to establish the taskforce on a statutory basis.
25. Users' Council for the Office of the Registrar of Friendly Societies. A users' council for the office of the registrar of friendly societies was established in August, 2001 on a non-statutory basis. There are no proposals to give the users' council a statutory basis.
26. An Inter-Departmental Committee has been established with a co-ordination role in regard to expenditure by Departments on research technology and innovation, RTI. There are no plans to give it a statutory basis.
27. Employment and Human Resources Development Operational Programme and EQUAL Community Initiative. As provided for under the national development plan, my Department is the designated managing authority for the employment and human resources operational programme and the EQUAL community initiative. The operational programme and the initiative are overseen by two separate and distinct monitoring committees, established and chaired by my Department. The committees have decision-making powers in the case of European Social Fund part-funded activity. They are non-statutory committees and have agreed their own rules of procedure, in accordance with the provisions of both the national development plan and the community support framework agreed with the European Commission. There are no plans to give them a statutory basis.
28. As provided for in the national development plan, my Department established and chairs a horizontal employment and human resources development co-ordinating committee to monitor European Social Fund part-funded activity and related employment-labour market interests. The role of the committee is to consider, from time to time, key policy issues and actions in such fields. The committee does not have a decision-making role and is non-statutory. There are no plans to give it a statutory basis.
29. National Anti Poverty Strategy-Employment Working Group, NAPS. The NAPS employment working group was established by this Department in 2001 as part of the process of reviewing and updating the national anti-poverty strategy. Work of this group has already been concluded following the submission of a number of recommendations, as part of the review process, on employment policy contribution to reducing poverty and eliminating social exclusion. The question of giving the group a statutory basis does not arise.
30. Employment Services Advisory Committee. Since mid 2000 the management of the LES has been assigned to FÁS. A new employment services advisory committee, ESAC, to the FÁS executive has been established to carry forward this process. There are no plans to establish the committee on a statutory basis.
31. Immigration Policy Advisory Committee. Following consultation with the social partners, the Government announced a new proactive, skills-based immigration policy in 2000. An immigration advisory committee was established as part of the PPF and is chaired by this Department and includes the social partners. There are no proposals to put the committee on a statutory footing.
32. The National Training Advisory Committee. The national training advisory committee was established recently to advise the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on issues relating to training people in and for employment and on the priorities for support from the national training fund. There are no plans to establish the committee under statute.
33. The Social Economy National Monitoring Committee. The social economy programme arose from a Government decision on foot of a P2000 working group report on the social economy. The social economy national monitoring committee chaired by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and comprising trade union-local employers-farming-voluntary pillar representatives as well as relevant Government Departments and statutory bodies was established to oversee the development and implementation of the programme. There are no proposals to give a statutory basis to this committee.
34. Competition Authority Advisory Panel. In October 2001, following a recommendation in its organisational review, the competition authority established the competition authority advisory panel to advise it on legal, policy, management and strategic issues. The panel has no executive role and does not discuss individual enforcement cases. The panel will sit for two years. It does not have a statutory basis and it is not intended to give it one.
35. Euro-Taxis Euro Changeover Group. A group consisting of representatives from the Department of the Environment and Local Government, the euro changeover board, the legal metrology office, Dublin Corporation, the Garda carriage office and Forfás was set up in June 2001 to ensure a smooth changeover of taximeters for the euro. The question of establishment on a statutory basis does not arise.
36. An implementation group, set up in March 2001, has been progressing the establishment of the personal injuries assessment board. There is no intention to establish this group on a statutory basis.
37. The consumer advisory council was set up in June 2001. There are no proposals to have the council given a statutory basis.
38. A round table for SMEs was established on a non-statutory basis. There is no proposal to give it a statutory basis.
Existing – Statutory39. The Motor Insurance Advisory Board was established under Statutory Instrument S.I. No. 299 of 1984. This order may be cited as the Motor Insurance Advisory Board (Establishment) Order, 1984. There are no plans to have this body given a basis in statute as opposed to statutory instrument.
40. Office of Director of Corporate Enforcement. The Company Law Enforcement Act, 2001 provided for the establishment of the post of Director of Corporate Enforcement with the functions of enforcing and ensuring compliance with the Companies Acts. The ODCE came into being on 28 November 2001.
41. Company Law Review Group. The Company Law Review Group was established as a statutory advisory body to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment by section 7 of the Company Law Enforcement Act, 2001. The review group is charged with advising the Minister on the reform and strategic development of the companies code in Ireland.
42. The Register of Patent Agents Rules, S.I. No. 180 of 1982, provide for a board to consider applications from persons wishing to be entered in the register of patent agents. The Trade Mark Rules, S.I. No. 199 of 1996, also provide for a board to consider applications from persons wishing to be entered in the register of trade mark agents. There are no proposals to give these boards a basis in statute as opposed to statutory instrument.
Proposed – Non-statutory43. A high level steering committee has been proposed to assist the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment in relation to the activities of Science Foundation Ireland so as to ensure an appropriate consultation process between the foundation's activities and other research funding agencies. There are no plans to give it a statutory basis.
44. My Department is in the process of establishing a consultative forum, on an informal basis, for the purpose of dealing with issues relating to the proposed administrative transfer of the National Metrology Laboratory from Enterprise Ireland to the national standards authority of Ireland. The forum will be representative of the management, staff and their unions of the two organisations concerned and the Department. It will not have a statutory basis.
Proposed – Statutory45. Science Foundation Ireland. Legislation is being drafted to set up Science Foundation Ireland as a separate legal entity.
46. As recommended in the report of the review group on auditing I established the Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority, IAASA, on an interim basis. The interim board is advising me during the drafting of legislation to give effect to the review group's recommendations. This legislation will provide for the establishment of IAASA on a statutory basis.
Ruairí Quinn
Question:
68
Mr. Quinn
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
the directives issued under the Treaties establishing the European Communities any provision of which comes under the auspices of her Department which have not yet been transposed into law; if such transposition will be effected by Bill or statutory instrument; if transposition is overdue; if so, the steps taken by the European Commission by way of enforcement in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[7150/02]
The current position in relation to the transposition of EU directives for which my Department is responsible indicates a total of 34 directives to be implemented, including six for which the deadline for implementation, in full or in part, has passed. Details of the directives, including, in so far as it has been decided, the proposed transposition instruments, are available on my Departments website at www.entemp.ie/ecd/eudirectives.
A letter of formal notice, under Article 226 of the treaty, has been issued by the European Commission in the case of three of the outstanding directives for which the deadline for implementation has passed.
I am satisfied that my Department is giving all due priority to the task of implementing the provisions of EU directives, in light of the available resources.
