Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 February 2014
86. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide a list of bodies under the aegis of his Department in respect of Government policy for which he is responsible for answering parliamentary questions pursuant to Standing Order 34. [7004/14]
View answerI am interpreting the Deputy’s question as referring to the bodies under the aegis of my Department in relation to which I am responsible for answering Parliamentary Questions. The following are the offices under the aegis of my Department.
|
Number |
Name |
|
1. |
Companies Registration Office |
|
2. |
Employment Appeals Tribunal |
|
3. |
Labour Court |
|
4. |
Labour Relations Commission |
|
5. |
National Employment Rights Authority |
|
6. |
Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement |
|
7. |
The Equality Tribunal (responsibility for the Equality Tribunal transferred to the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation with effect from 1 January, 2013) |
|
8. |
Patents Office |
|
9. |
Registry of Friendly Societies |
The following are the Agencies under the aegis of my Department.
|
Number |
Name |
|
1. |
Enterprise Ireland |
|
2. |
IDA Ireland |
|
3. |
Science Foundation Ireland |
|
4. |
Shannon Development |
|
5. |
County and City Enterprise Boards (35) |
|
6. |
National Standards Authority of Ireland |
|
7. |
Forfás |
|
8. |
National Consumer Agency |
|
9. |
The Competition Authority |
|
10. |
Irish Auditing and Accounting Standards Authority |
|
11. |
Personal Injuries Assessment Board |
|
12. |
The Health and Safety Authority |
In addition, I would draw the Deputy’s attention to the fact that, following enactment of the Microenterprise Loan Fund Act 2012, Microfinance Ireland was established as a private limited company in August 2012, as a subsidiary of the Social Finance Foundation and has charitable status. Microfinance Ireland has been funded by the Government to provide loans to newly established and growing microenterprises across all industry sectors that do not meet the conventional risk criteria applied by banks. Furthermore, the Crafts Council of Ireland which is the national design and economic development organisation for the crafts industry in Ireland with the objective of fostering the sector’s growth and commercial strength, communicating its unique identity and stimulating quality design, innovation and competitiveness. Since 1976, the State, through my Department, has provided funding to the Crafts Council. The Council’s annual Exchequer allocation is approved by my Department and disbursed through Enterprise Ireland.
The Crafts Council engages directly with my Department and also through Enterprise Ireland in regard to funding, strategy, business plans and its other corporate governance matters. Where a Parliamentary Question is tabled which relates to the day-to-day operational/ administration of the Agencies listed above, Microfinance Ireland or the Crafts Council of Ireland, this is a matter for the individual body concerned, for which I have no direct function.
