I propose to take Questions Nos. 187 and 188 together.
My Department currently has the following State Agencies supporting us in our work:
1.
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Enterprise Ireland
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2.
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IDA Ireland
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3.
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Science Foundation Ireland
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4.
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Shannon Development
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5.
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County and City Enterprise Boards (35)
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6.
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National Standards Authority of Ireland
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7.
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Forfás
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8.
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National Consumer Agency
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9.
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The Competition Authority
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10.
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Irish Auditing and Accounting Standards Authority
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11.
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Personal Injuries Assessment Board
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12.
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The Health and Safety Authority
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13.
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The National Employment Rights Authority (NERA)
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The Minister has commenced the process to reform the State’s employment rights and industrial relations structures. This will involve two statutorily independent bodies replacing the current five (which includes NERA). There will be a new single body of first instance to be called the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and a separate appeals body, which will effectively be an expanded Labour Court. The WRC will replace the Labour Relations Commission, NERA, the Equality Tribunal and undertake the first instance functions of the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT). The Labour Court will take on the appellate functions of the EAT. I have established no new semi-State organisations in my Department since March 2011.