Written Answers Nos. 82-87
82. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform 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. [7006/14]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question the following is a list of bodies under my remit which I am responsible for answering Parliamentary Questions pursuant to Standing Order 34: The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; Office of Public Works; Office of the Ombudsman; Office of the Information Commissioner; Commissioner for Environmental Information; Standards in Public Office Commission; State Laboratory; Public Appointments Service; Valuation Office; Valuation Tribunal; An Post National Lottery Board; Institute of Public Administration; Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
83. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a list of bodies to which he has the authority to appoint board members. [7021/14]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that I have the authority to appoint Board members to An Post National Lottery and the Public Appointments Service. The Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act, 2004 states that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (in consultation with Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, the Minister for Health and the Minister for Justice and Equality) should appoint members of the Board of the Public Appointments Service. The Public Appointments Service Board is meant to be representative of our client base. The majority of the board is therefore civil or public servants, nominated by the relevant Minister. There is also a union representative nominated by ICTU. The two external members were appointed by the Minister because of their expertise in strategic change and public service recruitment respectively. The Chief Executive Officer is appointed to the Board on an ex officio basis.
84. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a list of all specific new powers or functions conferred on local authorities by legislation under his area since June 2009 and a reference to the specific section or regulation in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7036/14]
View answerI have not conferred any new powers or functions on local authorities by legislation since my Department was established in 2011.
85. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when it is likely the Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill will become law; the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7142/14]
View answerThe Government published the Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2012 on 3rd August, 2012 as part of its legislative programme. The Bill proceeded through its second stage in Seanad Éireann on 11th October 2012. The primary purpose of the Bill is to accelerate the national programme of revaluing every commercial and industrial property in the country which is being undertaken by the Valuation Office. Since the 2nd stage debate was taken in Seanad Éireann, officials in my Department and the Valuation Office have engaged in an extensive consultation process on various aspects of the Bill with a range of stakeholders. While the legislation is quite complex, the amendments to be proposed at Committee Stage in the Seanad are at an advanced stage of drafting. Every effort is being made to expedite the passage of the Bill and I expect to see it progressing through the Oireachtas before the Summer recess.
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.
87. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide a list of bodies to which he has the authority to appoint board members. [7019/14]
View answerThe following are the bodies for which I have authority to appoint board members: Forfás; National Competitiveness Council; National Standards Authority of Ireland; Crafts Council of Ireland; Enterprise Ireland; Tyndall National Institute; Shannon Free Airport Development Company Limited; IDA Ireland; Science Foundation Ireland;Trade Mark Agent Board; Patent Agent Board; Labour Relations Commission; Health & Safety Authority; Personal Injuries Assessment Board; National Consumer Agency; Irish Auditing & Accounting Supervisory Authority.
