Tuesday, 13 Dec 2016

Written Replies Nos. 631-654

Taxi Licences

Questions (631, 632, 633)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

631. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is considering issuing new standard car taxi plates in the Cork city region. [40095/16]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

632. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider issuing new standard car taxi plates in the Cork city region to drivers who have been renting plates for a long time, for example, for more than two years. [40096/16]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

633. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the actions he intends to take to assist taxi drivers who are renting taxi plates; his views on the lack of control they have over their own work; the implications this has for their income and working conditions; his plans to remedy this by the issuing of additional plates or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40097/16]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

I propose to take Questions Nos. 631 to 633, inclusive, together.

The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including issues pertaining to vehicle licences, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013.

I have therefore referred the Deputy's Questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.

The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.

Motor Insurance

Questions (634)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

634. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has had any discussions with the Minister for Finance regarding insurance for the taxi industry; if he has considered any action regarding a no-claims bonus for those with fleet insurance; and the way in which this could be implemented. [40098/16]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

I am acutely aware that the rising costs of motor insurance for drivers generally are also affecting the taxi industry. There are reports of large increases for existing policy holders and significant difficulties in obtaining insurance for new operators. The implications of the current insurance difficulties faced by those in the taxi sector are of serious concern to me.

The Minister for Finance has established a task force to review policy in the insurance sector. As part of its work, it is examining the factors which have led in recent times to the significant increase in motor insurance costs and will be recommending steps to influence the situation. The difficulties of taxi and hackney operators in obtaining insurance have been highlighted to the task force by my Department and the National Transport Authority (NTA). I am advised that the NTA has also had a bi-lateral meeting with the Department of Finance to apprise them of the situation pertaining to small public service vehicle (SPSV) licence holders in relation to both the availability and cost of SPSV insurance. I understand that a report of the work of the task force will be completed in the coming weeks and the Government will then consider the appropriate actions to be taken.

Public Transport

Questions (635)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

635. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has given consideration to upgrading public transport ticketing systems with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, PCIDSS, compliant equipment to enable visa debit contactless travel; the amount such an upgrade would cost; and if he will progress a trial in a city area to ascertain uptake. [40102/16]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the development, operation and maintenance of the Leap Card system.

Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more detailed reply.  Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.

Legislative Programme

Questions (636)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

636. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the name and number of Bills in preparation or published by his Department since May 2016; the Stage each Bill is at in the Houses of the Oireachtas; the number of Bills from his Department signed into law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40143/16]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

There are currently three Bills undergoing preparation in my Department. The titles and current status are as follows:

- Merchant Shipping (International Conventions and Maritime Safety) Bill -  a scoping exercise is currently being undertaken by my Department.

- Large Public Service Vehicle Bill 2017 - the Road Safety Authority and An Garda Síouchána are working together to further analyse the administrative changes that will be needed to deliver the regulatory change. Work is simultaneously ongoing in my Department in defining the precise dimensions of the legislative changes required.

- Irish Aviation Authority (Amendment) Bill 2016 - my Department has commenced a consultation for a regulatory impact analysis concerning extending the current legislative provision concerning charging for safety regulation to also cover charges for aviation security regulation by the IAA. 

There is one Bill before the Oireachtas from my Department as follows:

- Road Traffic Bill 2016 - this has passed the committe stage and the report stage is due in mid-December.   

- The National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Act 2016  (Act No. 14 of 2016) was signed into law on 16 November 2016.

Decentralisation Programme

Questions (637)

Marc MacSharry

Question:

637. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of entire units that have been re-centralised back to Dublin within his Department; his Department's rationale for such moves; and if Cabinet approval was sought and given in each case. [40482/16]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

No unit of my Department has been re-centralised back to Dublin.

Foreign Direct Investment

Questions (638)

Micheál Martin

Question:

638. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the possible EU-wide screening regime to keep foreign money out of sensitive sectors, as proposed by Chancellor Merkel recently. [39373/16]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

I have brought this to the attention of IDA Ireland, the State Agency under my Department with responsibility for foreign direct investment. The Agency is not aware of any such proposal.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (639)

Niall Collins

Question:

639. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total photography costs for her Department per annum since March 2011 inclusive of costs incurred from use of the ministerial allowance, in tabular form; the occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; the breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; if there is a policy regarding the booking of photographers within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39473/16]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

I can advise the Deputy that the total photography costs incurred by my Department and its Offices since 9 March, 2011 are as follows:

2011 - €2,017

2012 - €4,100

2013 - €4,455

2014 - €4,534

2015 - €6,153

2016 (to date) – €4,130

The details for each year are set out in the following table.

No expenditure for photography was incurred from Ministerial allowances.

2011

Occasion for which Photographer booked	Name of Photographer	Breakdown of costs associated with each event
Small Business Advisory Group Launch	Mac Innes Photography	€409
Irish Ambassadors for Female Entrepreneurship	Mac Innes Photography	€223
One Millionth Document Filed Online at the Companies Registration Office	Jason Clarke Photography	€484
Ministerial image shot for Repeat use	Mac Innes Photography	€245
Launch of the Final Report of the Sales Law Review Group	Mac Innes Photography	€252
Launch of the Report of “The Voice of Small Business”	Mac Innes Photography	€284
Junior Inventor Awards	Hot Shotz Photographers	€120
Total		€2,017

2012

Occasion for which Photographer booked	Name of Photographer	Breakdown of costs associated with each event
Launch of Action Plan for Jobs 2012	Mac Innes Photography	€438
Action Plan for Jobs Forum, Limerick	Press 22	€312
Action Plan for Jobs Roadshow, Cork	B.L. Mac Gill Photography	€200
Launch of Research Prioritisation Report	Jason Clarke Photography	€492
Action Plan for Jobs Roadshow, Waterford	Gerry O’Carroll Photography	€298
Capital Investment Announcement	Mac Innes Photography	€284
Launch of IP Protocol	Fennell Photography	€301
Launch of Business Regulation Portal	Fennell Photography	€319
Establishment of Clustering Development Team	Fennell Photography	€331
Launch of “Managing out of the Crisis” Guide	Fennell Photography	€257
Publication of Micro Enterprise Loan Fund Bill	Fennell Photography	€283
Launch of €90 Million Microfinance Scheme	Fennell Photography	€321
Launch of Green Economy Policy Statement	Fennell Photography	€264
Total		€4,100

2013

Occasion for which Photographer booked	Name of Photographer	Breakdown of costs associated with each event
Launch of Action Plan for Jobs Q4 Results	Fennell Photography	€264
Launch of Action Plan for Jobs 2013	Fennell Photography	€318
Meeting with Chinese Ambassador	Fennell Photography	€308
Launch of New Work Permit Legislation	Fennell Photography	€264
Launch of Manufacturing Report	Fennell Photography	€342
Unveiling of new Local Enterprise Office, Swords and announcement of details of improved new service for micro and small enterprises	Fennell Photography	€326
Announcement of membership of the Entrepreneurship Forum	Fennell Photography	€369
Launch of Action Plan for Jobs Q2 Results	Fennell Photography	€273
Launch of Copyright Review Report	Fennell Photography	€251
Appointment of Chairman of US-Ireland Partnership	Fennell Photography	€232
IDA Announcement	Fennell Photography	€270
Conference for EU High Level Group for Innovation	Fennell Photography	€290
Informal meeting of EU High Level Employment Committee in Dublin Castle	Maxwell Photography	€579
Group Photograph of Labour Court Members	Tommy Clancy Photography	€369
Total		€4,455

2014

Occasion for which Photographer booked	Name of Photographer	Breakdown of costs associated with each event
Launch of Entrepeneurship Forum report	Fennell Photography	€291
Taking Care of Business 2014	Fennell Photography	€291
Action Plan for Jobs 2014 Launch	Fennell Photography	€321
Launch of National Corporate Social Responsibilty Plan	Fennell Photography	€137
Publication of OECD report on the Action Plan for Jobs	Fennell Photography	€229
Launch of young entrepreneur competition	Fennell Photography	€397
Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Conference	Fennell Photography	€457
Domestic Workers Group	Fennell Photography	€321
EU SME Week	Fennell Photography	€203
Launch of the Horizon 2020 Strategic Research Proposals Group	Fennell Photography	€460
Retirement of labour Court member	Tom Clancy Photography	€369
Signing of MOU between NERA and the HSA	Karl McDonagh	€57
Senior Management Forum	UCD	€400
Taking Care of Business Launch	Fennell Photography	€275
CD Copy of Taking Care of Business	Mac Innes Photography	€203
Preparation of stock photo image for new Registrar of Companies for inclusion in CRO publications	Fennell Photography	€123
Total		€4,534

2015

Occasion for which Photographer booked	Name of Photographer	Breakdown of costs associated with each event
Launch of Action Plan for Jobs 2015	Fennell Photography	€312
Launch of Action Plan for Jobs Regional	Fennell Photography	€489
Launch of EGFSN Report	Fennell Photography	€291
EI Trade Mission & St Patrick’s day schedules	Fennell Photography	€138
Launch of APJ.ie website	Maxwell Photography	€431
Launch of Low Pay Commission	Maxwell Photography	€448
Launch of Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Impact in Ireland study	Fennell Photography	€336
Launch of Prompt Payments Code of Conduct	Maxwell Photography	€344
Photocall with Dr. Francis Gurry, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organisation	Fennell Photography	€291
Launch of Start UP Refunds for Entrepreneurs (SURE)	Fennell Photography	€306
Launch of CSR Hub Website	Fennell Photography	€352
Launch of Manufacturing Brochure	Fennell Photography	€137
Living Wage Forum	Maxwell Photography	€413
Launch of Enterprise 2025 Strategy	Fennell Photography	€381
Launch of EGFSN Report on Skills in the Hospitality Sector	Fennell Photography	€336
Photographer for CSR Website Launch	Fennell Photography	€99
Distribution of Photos of CSR Website Launch	Fennell Photography	€261
Launch of Workplace Relations Commission	Fennell Photography	€291
Launch of LPC Recommendations on the NMW – 21/7/15	Maxwell Photography	€482
Launch of Manufacturing Brochure	Fennell photography	€15 ( cost of additional photo)
Total		€6,153

2016

Occasion for which Photographer booked	Name of Photographer	Breakdown of costs associated with each event
Photocall for increase to the National Minimum Wage	Fennell photography	€291
Launch of APJ 2016	Fennell photography	€586
Launch of Workplace Relations Commission Strategy Statement	Fennell photography	€137
Visit of Johann Dietrich Woerner DG European Space Agency	Fennell photography	€565
Headshot of Oonagh Buckley new DG Workplace Relations Commission	Fennell photography	€183
Photocall EGFSN report on Biopharma Industry	Fennell photography	€321
Photocall with NCBI	Fennell photography	€414
Visit of Jean Pierre Bourguignon President of The European Research Council (ERC)	Fennell photography	€122
Opening of new offices for Workplace Relations Commission and Labour Court	Fennell photography	€291
Photographic Services for outgoing Director General, WRC event	Tommy Clancy Photography	€231
Photographic Services for outgoing Chairman of the Labour Court event	Tommy Clancy Photography	€231
Stock photo Chairman Labour Court	Fennell Photography	€77
Stock photo Labour Court Members	Tommy Clancy Photography	€681
Total		€4, 130

The Department uses external photographers sparingly and, with a view to keeping costs to a minimum, regularly uses its own facilities and staff to take photographs in-house. My Department also avails of the panel of photography firms, selected following a procurement process undertaken by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which is available for use by all Departments.

Departmental Contracts

Questions (640)

Niall Collins

Question:

640. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to detail the external consultant reports commissioned by her Department since March 2011 per annum, in tabular form; the costs per report; the company involved; the title of the report; and the publication date. [39489/16]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The names of external reports commissioned by my Department and Offices of my Department, the costs, the date or expected date of publication and the name of the external consultants are set out below for the years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and to 12th December 2016. In some cases, the costs of the reports were shared with other bodies and these are noted below.

The data in respect of 2014 includes research and analysis which was commissioned by Forfás prior to the date of its integration into my Department in August 2014, and for which my Department held the 2014 budget. This research and analysis have subsequently been carried out in the Strategic Policy Division in my Department.

1 January – 12 December 2016

Name of external Consultant/Organisation	Report Title		Date of Commission	Publication Status	Cost of Report €
Sabeo	Health check on email archive system		December 2015	Awaiting final report, Internal ICT assessment – not for publication	1,750.00
Gas Package Solutions (GPS) Ltd.,	Assessment of application for recognised third party recognition status under EU Pressure Equipment Directive 97/23/EC		22 June 2015	Technical assessment report - not for publication	6,685.00
Capita Business Services Ltd		Review of Science and Technology Development Programme – Draft Audit Report	October 2015	Operational report not for publication	8,250.00
Ward Solutions		ICT Security Reviews	Various Dates	Internal ICT security assessments – not for publication	3,198.00
Sabeo		Patents Office ICT System Architecture Review	March 2016	Internal ICT architecture – not for publication	4,305.00
Insight Statistical Consulting		Annual Survey of Economic Impact 2015	December 2015	Due for publication Q1 2017	46,125.00
ESRI Research Programme with DJEI & EI		Research Programme – Innovation & Productivity & Services export diversification	July 2016	Due for publication Q4 2016	50,000.00 (DJEI) 50,000.00 (EI)
Indecon Economic Consultants		Study to Examine the Affordability of Irish Housing and its impact on economic competitiveness.	March 2016	To be published July 2016	25,239.60
Indecon Economic Consultants		Review of RD&I Supports available to businesses in Ireland	24th May 2016	Ongoing	59,133.80 (23,645.52 paid to date)
Insight Statistical Consulting		Data Analysis to feed into Knowledge Based Capital study	29th April 2016	For internal use – not for publication	13,776
Ward Solutions		ICT Security Reviews	29 June 2016 and 10 August 2016	Internal ICT assessments- not for publication	16,186.80
Storm Technology Limited		Health Check on Microsoft SQL server systems	29th August 2016	Internal ICT assessment- not for publication	3,690.00
Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors (CIIA)		External Quality Assessment for Internal Audit Unit - DJEI	September 2016	Published December 2016 for Audit Committee – internal use only – not for publication	€16,974

1 January – 31 December 2015

Name of external Consultant/Organisation	Report Title	Date of Commission	Publication Status	Cost of Report €
Technopolis	Evaluation of Ireland’s Participation in FP7 and Horizon 2020	December 2015	Ongoing	97,237.65 (29,171.30 paid in 2015)
University of Limerick	Study on the prevalence of zero hour and low hour contracts and their impact on employees	February 2015	Published 3 November 2015	96,670.00
Planet21 Communications Ltd.	Strategic Review of Network	January 2015	Internal ICT network assessment – not for publication	9,932.25
Ward Solutions	ICT security review	Various Dates	Internal ICT security assessments – not for publication	54,765.75
Version 1 Software	Oracle eBusiness Suite Release 12 Upgrade Assessment	November 2014	Internal ICT system assessment – not for publication	8,079.92
Copenhagen Economics	TTIP Impact in Ireland	December 2013	Published on 27th March 2015	84,896.04
Insight Statistical Consulting	Annual Business Survey of Economic Impact (ABSEI)	December 2014	ABSEI 2014 – Report published June 2016	46,740.27 (DJEI) 46,740.27 (EI) 46,740.27 (IDA)
Insight Statistical Consulting	Annual Employment Survey 2015	July 2015	Survey Report published June 2016	5,965.50 (DJEI) 10,737.90 (EI) 1,193.10 (IDA)
Technopolis	Enterprise demand survey and analysis for report on Strengthening Ireland’s Market-Focussed Research Centre Capacity	February 2015	Technical input to development of successor to SSTI - Complete	30,750.00
Mazars LLP	Not in public domain.	September 2014	This report forms part of the evidence in a criminal prosecution by the DPP and will be detailed in court when the case is heard.	177,545.80
Mason Hayes Curran	Tables of Destinations and Origins to Companies Act 2014	April 2015	15th June 2015	123,000.00
Crowley’s DFK	Audit of funds transfer as part of Forfás restructuring	December 2014	Operational report not for publication	7,000.00
Capita Business Services Ltd	Review of Agency case	January 2015	Not for publication.	9,809.25
CMI	A study on the role and importance of Design in Irish-based firms in Non-Design Intensive Sectors	June 2015	Complete - to be published shortly (underpinned the publication “Policy Framework for Design in Enterprise in Ireland” – published 26th of January	48, 454.65
Dr Christian Ketels	Review of Competitiveness Frameworks	August 2015	Published April 2016	34,045.00
ESRI Research Programme with DJEI & EI	Review of Expansion & Diversification of Irish Exports - Manufacturing	November 2015	Completed – due for publication Q3 2016	30,000.00 (DJEI) 30,000.00 (EI)

January – December 2014

Name of external Consultant/Organisation	Report Title	Date of Commission	Publication Status	Cost of Report €
Technopolis	Ireland’s Future Infrastructure Needs	Q2 2015	Published as part of Innovation 2020 in December 2015	47,203.17
Ward Solutions	ICT security reviews	Various dates	Internal ICT security assessments – not for publication	35,178.00
Rits	Mobile Device Policy Assessment	September 2014	Internal ICT security assessments – not for publication	2,236.00
Version 1	Oracle eBusiness Suite R12 Upgrade Assessment	November 2014	Internal ICT assessment – not for publication	4,174.13
Clarion Consulting Limited	Employment Permits Administration Section Business Process Improvement Project Report	July 2014	Not for publication	52,275.00
CIRCA Group Europe Limited	Review of Ireland’s membership of international research organisations	Q1 2015	Published as part of Innovation 2020 in December 2015	61,131.00
CM International	Assessment of Public Funded RD&I Supports for Innovation in Services and Business Processes	January 2014– commissioned by Forfás	Input to Forfás report on Services Innovation published April 2014	6,000.00
Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government	Ireland’s Competitiveness Scorecard 2014	Q1 2014 – Commissioned by Forfás	Input on economic complexity to competitiveness analysis.	2,600.00
Insight Statistical Consulting / Fitzpatrick Associates	Evaluation of IDA Training Grants	November 2013 – commissioned by Forfás	Input to programme of evaluations - publication Q1 2015	29,250.00 (19,188.00 paid by DJEI in 2014: balance paid by Forfás)
DCU/Fitzsimons Consulting	Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2014 (GEM)	Q4 - 2013	Ongoing - GEM 2014 report will be published	20,000.00
Insight Statistical Consulting	Annual Employment Survey 2014 (AES)	July 2014	Published Feb 2015	5,882.60 (DJEI) 11,337.40 (IDA/EI)
Indecon Economic Consultants	Analysis of direct & indirect economic impacts on an export-led growth enterprise policy	December 2014	Complete – input to Enterprise 2025	48,275.00 (14,482.00 paid in 2014: balance paid in 2015)
IDC	Harnessing Big Data for innovation led growth: an assessment of Ireland's progress and further policy requirements	July 2014– commissioned by Forfás	Complete – publication Q2 2015	56,690.00
CM International	Optimising Policy Intervention to Strengthen the Impacts of Enterprise RD&I in Ireland	August 2014	Complete – input to development of successor to SSTI analysis Publish 8th December 2015	36,469.00
Fitzpatrick Associates	Econometric analysis of effectiveness & impacts of agency supports	December 2014	Input to DJEI Evaluations of agency programmes. Published Q2 2015	47,970.00 (14,391.00 paid in 2014; balance paid in 2015)
Insight Statistical Consulting	Annual Business Survey of Economic Impact (ABSEI)	December 2013	ABSEI 2013 report published January 2015	44,034.00 (DJEI) 44,034.00 (IDA) 44,034.00 (EI)
PWC	Role of Intellectual Property	Q4 2013	Input to competitiveness analysis	15,612.00
PWC	Review of Insurance Costs	August 2014	Input to published Costs of Doing Business 2015 & Competitiveness Bulletin published Jan 2016	34,440.00
PWC	The role of public procurement in driving Ireland’s competitiveness, whilst delivering value for money	Q4 2013	Published as input to Competitiveness Challenge 2014	31,340.00
Technopolis	Strengthening Ireland’s Market-Focussed Research Centre Capacity	July 2014– commissioned by Forfás	Complete – input to development of successor to SSTI analysis	84,255.00
Tom Martin & Associates	Higher Education Engagement by EGFSN	October 2014	Completed for EGFSN – not for publication	€11,931.00
AECOM	Assessing the Demand for Skills in the Freight Transport, Distribution and Logistics Sector in Ireland over the period 2014-2020	May 2014 – commissioned by Forfás	Input to EGFSN review - publication Q1 2015	€78,702.00 (National Training Fund contribution €60,601.00)
DKM RPS	Water Services & Environmental waste Issues & Priorities for Enterprise	Commissioned by Forfás in early 2014	Ongoing - input to Forfás/DJEI submissions to regulator and competitiveness reports	50.353.00
Technopolis	A Mapping of Smart Ageing activity in Ireland and an assessment of the potential smart ageing opportunity areas	July 2014– commissioned by Forfás	Input to DJEI analysis – published Q2 2015	89,605.00
Cambridge IP	An Analysis of Intellectual Property Activity in Ireland based on the existing data Phase 1	April 2014– commissioned by Forfás	Input to DJEI analysis - publication Q1 2015	40,966.38
Technopolis	A Study on enhancing the Intellectual Property activities in the firm base in Ireland	September 2014	Input to DJEI analysis – publication Q2 2015	49,138.00
E&Y	Analysis of Sectoral Ecosystems - Input to Enterprise Policy 2025	Q2 2014 – Commissioned by Forfás	Enterprise 2025 Published November 2015	61,461.00
RSM McClure Watters	Study of the Current and Future skills requirements of the Marine/Maritime Economy to 2020	June 2014 - commissioned by Forfás	Input to EGFSN review – published Q1 2015	€82,502.25 (National Training Fund contribution €63,527)
Indecon Economic Consultants	Hospitality Sector - Hotels, Tourism & Catering	November 2014	Input to EGFSN review – published Q4 2015	€78,289.50 (€39,145.00 paid in 2014, balance payable 2015) National Training Fund Contribution €60,282.92

January – December 2013

Name of external Consultant/Organisation	Report Title	Date of Commission	Publication Status	Cost of Report €
Ward Solutions	ICT security reviews	Various dates	Internal ICT security assessments – not for publication	24,627.00
Fitzpatrick Associates	Export Licensing Administration Process Review	July 2012	Complete	47,417.00
Tom Martin & Associates/TMA	Youth Unemployment A review of wage costs and other factors which may affect the employment of young people in Ireland.	Q4 2013	Not for publication - Presented to the Troika in line with the terms of the Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policy which is a component of the Memorandum of Understanding, September 2013, as part of which the Irish Government undertook to present a report in December 2013.	5,547.30
Janet Hughes	Labour Court Review of Joint labour Committees	February 2013	Published	17,835.00
RSM McClure Watters	The evaluation of the Workplace Relations Pilot Early Resolution Service	February 2013	Published September 2013	35,498.00
First Choice Financial Services Ltd and AJS Financial Advice Ltd	Credit Guarantee Scheme “Findings and Recommendations”	July 2013	September 2013	24,600.00

January – December 2012

Name of external Consultant/Organisation	Report Title	Date of Commission	Publication Status	Cost of Report €
Ward Solutions	Security reviews of ICT systems	Various dates	Internal ICT security assessments – not for publication	39,095.00
Version 1	ICT systems review – Patents Office	November 2011	Internal technology review – not for publication	29,667.00
Achilles Procurement Services Ltd.	Recommended Procurement Strategy for a Customer Relationship Management System (CRMS) from the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court	July 2012	Published internally August 2012	2,560.00
Deloitte	Feasibility Study: Making Ireland an International Centre for Intellectual Property		Ongoing	102,872.62

March – December 2011

Name of external Consultant/Organisation	Report Title	Date of Commission	Publication Status	Cost of Report €
Rits	IT Security assessment of new hosting site in Revenue Hosting Centre	May 2011	Internal ICT security assessment – not for publication	7,093.00
Maxima Ireland	Computer Server Virtualisation Strategy Review	June 2011	Internal technology review – not for publication	8,276.00
UCD (Dr Frank Walsh)	Review of ERO and REA Wage Setting Mechanisms	Q1 - 2011	Published May 2011	15,000.00
Greater Heights Ltd	Learning Need Analysis (NERA Staff)	October 2010	Published	15,645.00
Capital for Enterprise Ltd.	Design of Temporary Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme	August 2011	Not for publication	59,565.00

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A:

I refer to Parliamentary Question 39489/16, which I responded to on 13 December 2016.

"To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the external consultant reports commissioned by her department since March 2011 per annum, in tabular form; the costs per report; the company involved; the title of the report; and the publication date."

In the time available, it was not possible to include all of the relevant information. The following is the additional material in relation to payments on external reports commissioned by my Department:

1 st January – 12 th December 2016

Name of external Consultant/Organisation	Report Title	Date of Commission	Publication Status	Cost of Report €
Technopolis	Evaluation of Overseas Office Activities of the Enterprise Development Agencies	1st August 2016	Ongoing	98,400 (29,418.53 paid to date)
Z_punkt The Foresight Company	A Technology Futures Exercise	15th July 2016	Ongoing	105,792 incl VAT (74,046 incl VAT paid to date)

Name of external Consultant/Organisation	Report Title	Date of Commission	Publication Status	Cost of Report €
Insight Statistical Consulting	Annual Business Survey of Economic Impact Tender for 2 years to cover the 2015 & 2016 surveys	December 2015 – Q1 2017	2015 Survey Report due for publication Q1 2017 2016 Survey Report due in Q1 2018	€276,750.00 total cost of 2015 survey conducted in 2016 and 2016 survey conducted in 2017. Costs split 3 ways between DJEI, EI & IDA each paying €92,250.00 over 2 years or €46,125.00 each p.a.
ESRI Research Programme with DJEI & EI	Research Programme: - Service Exports & Exporters of Services - Innovation & Productivity	November 2015	Due for publication Q1 2017	50,000.00 (DJEI) 50,000.00 (EI)
Indecon Economic Consultants	Study to Examine the Affordability of Irish Housing and its impact on economic competitiveness.	March 2016	Published July 2016	25,239.60
Insight Statistical Consulting	Annual Employment Survey 2016	December 2015	Survey Report to be published Q1 2017	46,125.00 (DJEI) (EI) (IDA)
PA Consulting Services Ltd	Horizon Scan of Global Markets and Identification of Opportunities for Ireland and Irish Based Enterprise	August 2016	Project underway. Expected Completion date April 2017	119,925

1 st January – 31st December 2015

Name of external Consultant/Organisation	Report Title	Date of Commission	Publication Status	Cost of Report €
Technopolis	Evaluation of Ireland’s Participation in FP7 and Horizon 2020	December 2015	Published 25 July 2016	97,237.65

Public Relations Contracts Data

Questions (641)

Niall Collins

Question:

641. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation for details on the use of external public relations firms employed by her Department per annum since March 2011 in tabular form; the list of uses for the external public relations firms; the internal departmental policy with regard to employing external organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39505/16]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

My Department awards contracts and procurements based on the most economically advantageous tender and strives to ensure that all contracts or procurements offered provide the greatest value for money possible. Officers of my Department closely monitor these contracts for their full duration.

My Department has entered into the following contracts with public relations companies since March 2011:

2011

PR Company	Purpose of Contract
Barberry Ltd T/A Keating & Associates19 Fitzwilliam PlaceDublin 2	To provide NERA with Communications Services, (including PR; Media Monitoring; advising on the design, content and production of reports & brochures and assisting with website content).

2012

PR Company	Purpose of Contract
Barberry Ltd T/A Keating & Associates19 Fitzwilliam PlaceDublin 2	To provide NERA with Communications Services, (including PR; Media Monitoring; advising on the design, content and production of reports & brochures and assisting with website content

2013

PR Company	Purpose of Contract
Barberry Ltd T/A Keating & Associates19 Fitzwilliam PlaceDublin 2	To provide NERA with Communications Services, (including PR; Media Monitoring; advising on the design, content and production of reports & brochures and assisting with website content

2014

PR Company	Purpose of Contract
Barberry Ltd T/A Keating & Associates19 Fitzwilliam PlaceDublin 2	To provide NERA with Communications Services, (including PR; Media Monitoring; advising on the design, content and production of reports & brochures and assisting with website content

2015

PR Company	Purpose of Contract
Atomic Advertising Ltd	Campaign to raise awareness of a range of Government provided enterprise supports among business owners, and potential start-ups.
Barberry Ltd T/A Keating & Associates19 Fitzwilliam PlaceDublin 2	To provide the National Employment Rights Authority (and from 1st October 2015, the Workplace Relations Commission) with Communications Services (including PR; Media Monitoring; advising on the design, content and production of reports & brochures).

2016

PR Company	Purpose of Contract
Fuzion Communications	Provision of communications services to the Workplace Relations Commission.

Information and Communications Technology

Questions (642)

John Brady

Question:

642. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she has used any private unsecured e-mail accounts for official business; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39587/16]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

ICT provision is made by my Department for the official business of Ministers to be conducted through official email accounts, and equipment is provided with appropriate security protocols to enable confidentiality to be maintained to the best standards possible and in so far as is possible within a challenging technological environment.

There is no set policy in place regarding use of personal accounts for official business by members of Government but this is currently under review. Whilst I have on occasion in the past used my personal email for account for non-sensitive correspondence, my official business is done through official email accounts.

IDA Ireland Site Visits

Questions (643)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

643. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of times Enterprise Ireland and the IDA have visited Tipperary town and County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39608/16]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

IDA Ireland maintains statistics in relation to site visits by potential investors on a county by county basis only. The latest data available shows that at the end of quarter three this year there were eight site visits by potential investors to County Tipperary. It is important to note, however, that data on site visits is not necessarily an accurate measure of the level of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) activity in a region or county, partly because approximately 70% of all FDI won by IDA Ireland comes from its existing client base, rather than new companies.

As Enterprise Ireland’s core focus is supporting the internationalisation of indigenous companies, it does not arrange site visits of a similar type to IDA Ireland. However, Enterprise Ireland’s regional executives frequently visit Tipperary. For example, Enterprise Ireland staff regularly meet with the Local Authority/LEO/Tipperary Economic Forum to discuss issues in connection with balanced regional development. Enterprise Ireland is also represented on the Tipperary Local Enterprise Office Evaluation Committee.

Job Creation

Questions (644)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

644. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the status of the efforts to provide employment at a site (details supplied) in Clonmel, County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39609/16]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The loss of jobs in Clonmel earlier this year was deeply regrettable. There is a clear need to create other employment opportunities in the region and both IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland are working hard with that goal in mind.

As part of this work, IDA Ireland has developed a detailed brief on the former Suir Pharma facility which is helping to inform the Agency’s intensive marketing of the site. In addition, the remit and scope of the South Tipperary Interagency Group has been expanded to include Suir Pharma. This group will help ensure that state agencies and relevant training bodies provide the maximum support possible to former employees of the company.

The progress made by the wider South East region, however, has been heartening. A number of Pharma companies, for example, have created new jobs there in recent years. Unemployment in the South East has fallen from 20.1% in 2011 to 10.4% by the end of September 2016. Efforts are continuing to reduce joblessness further, including through the Action Plan for Jobs for the South East. This plan targets, in particular, the creation of new jobs in manufacturing and international financial services and I am confident that we will see continued investment in these sectors there in the future.

IDA Ireland Supports

Questions (645)

Michael Harty

Question:

645. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the status of the IDA’s progress in securing a replacement industry for a company (details supplied) or any other activity the development agency might be generating in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39664/16]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Prior to the announcement of the company closure in November 2015, IDA Ireland engaged with its management to try to find a way to retain the facility in the county. The company undertook then to work closely with IDA Ireland to find an alternative buyer for the site. While such a buyer has not yet been identified, the Agency continues to actively market the facility for new investors as a going concern. The IDA is aided in this by a detailed brief it has developed on the facility and its existing workforce.

More broadly, the Agency has been very active in its attempts to secure new foreign direct investment projects for the Mid-West over the past 18 months. IDA Ireland-sponsored site visits to the county, for example, have increased. There were nine in 2014, which rose to twelve in 2015. By the end of September this year, there had already been thirteen. Progress is also being made in terms of job creation. In 2015, employment in IDA Ireland client companies in the region increased by 6%, representing a net change of 1,052 jobs.

Brexit Issues

Questions (646)

Alan Kelly

Question:

646. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the meetings that she has held to date with her Cabinet colleagues, her Department, departmental agencies and external stakeholders to address the challenges facing businesses in the wake of the Brexit referendum and specifically in view of the decline in the value of sterling. [39670/16]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Since the result of the UK Referendum in June, I have held an extensive series of meetings.

I am a member of the Cabinet Committee on Brexit, which has met on 4 occasions.

With regards to my own Department and its agencies, I have established a Co-ordination Group on Brexit, consisting of the CEOs of both IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, and relevant enterprise, single market and trade officials from my Department. This group, which I chair, oversees the management of our response to the Referendum result and has met on 8 occasions.

I have met with a wide range of representative organisations and stakeholders, including Ibec, ICTU, ISME, the SFA, the Irish Exporters Association, American Chamber of Commerce Ireland, Dublin Chamber of Commerce and the Irish Farmers Association. I have also had discussions about the impacts of Brexit at the Retailers Forum which I chair and it is a regular item for discussion at the Regional Action Plan for Jobs implementation Committees.

Given the impact of currency fluctuations since the UK Referendum, the issue of business financing requirement has been a regular topic for discussion at internal meetings and meetings with external stakeholders.

In November I met with my UK Trade and Business ministerial counterparts to ensure that the importance of the unique circumstances for Ireland is fully understood at Cabinet level in the UK. In September I travelled to Brussels, where I had a series of meetings with the European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, Elzbieta Bienkowska and the Commissioner for Trade, Cecelia Malmstrom and also Vicky Ford MEP, Chair of the Internal Market Committee of the European Parliament. Finally, I have asked my Department to organise a major stakeholder seminar, including Oireachtas members early in the new year.

IDA Ireland Site Visits

Questions (647)

Alan Kelly

Question:

647. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will provide a breakdown of all IDA visits by region and county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39671/16]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

IDA Ireland collates data on site visits on a quarterly basis. In the first three quarters of 2016, there were 489 site visits countrywide. The breakdown of those visits by region and county is provided in the enclosed table, which also includes figures for 2015 for comparison. Data on site visits for the final quarter of 2016 will be available early next year.

I want to stress that regional development is a priority of mine, as it is for this Government. Growing and sustaining foreign direct investment outside of the country’s main urban areas is a key part of our efforts in this context. To achieve that, we have to continue to make the case to prospective investors that regional Ireland can be a suitable location for their businesses. Increasing site visits to regional locations forms part of that approach. In 2015, 57% of site visits were to locations outside Dublin, up from 43% in 2014. The figures available for 2016 indicate that this trend is continuing.

We must remember, however, that a company’s ultimate choice of location can be influenced by a number of factors. This includes access to talent, proximity to transport hubs and the supply of suitable property. IDA Ireland actively tries to encourage client companies to locate outside Dublin but the final decision of where to situate always rests with the company itself.

Site Visits by County and Region 2015 to end Quarter 3 of 2016

Region	County	2015	2016 to Q3
Dublin	Dublin	242	204
Mid-East	Kildare	7	7
Mid-East	Meath	7	7
Mid-East	Wicklow	7	4
North-East	Cavan	0	1
North-East	Louth	20	17
North-East	Monaghan	2	2
North-West	Donegal	5	6
North-West	Leitrim	8	6
North-West	Sligo	15	13
Midlands	Laois	4	6
Midlands	Longford	2	5
Midlands	Offaly	8	4
Midlands	Westmeath	28	24
Mid-West	Clare	12	13
Mid-West	Limerick	40	39
Mid-West & South-East	Tipperary*	12	8
South-East	Carlow	1	8
South-East	Kilkenny	10	10
South-East	Wexford	4	6
South-East	Waterford	31	15
South –West	Kerry	6	3
South –West	Cork	48	43
West	Galway	41	33
West	Mayo	3	4
West	Roscommon	2	1
Total		565	489

*Tipperary is divided into two ridings – north and south. The north riding is in the Mid-West region and the south riding is in the South-East region. IDA Ireland does not break down its site visits figure further than county level so it is listed separately to cover both regions.

Departmental Legal Cases

Questions (648)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

648. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her Department has been involved in any court proceedings that involved non-disclosure agreements in the past five years; and if so, if the specific court ruling prevented the court proceedings and participants from being made known for each of these agreements. [39870/16]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

My Department has not entered into any non-disclosure agreements as a result of court proceedings in the last five years.

Health and Safety Regulations

Questions (649)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

649. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to incidents in which fake mobile telephone chargers have been known to catch fire; and if so, her plans to regulate or legislate on this issue to address public health and safety concerns. [39887/16]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Mobile phone chargers are classified as electrical equipment and the current product safety legislation covering electrical equipment is the European Union (Making Available on the Market of Electrical Equipment Designed for Use within Certain Voltage Limits) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 345 of 2016), which was signed into law on 29 June 2016. These regulations transposed the requirements of the Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU into Irish law and replaced the European Communities (Low Voltage Electrical Equipment) Regulations 1992 and 1994 which implemented the requirements of the previous Low Voltage Directive 73/23/EEC.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the statutory body responsible for the enforcement of domestic and EU competition and consumer law in the State and, as such, is charged with enforcing S.I. 345 of 2016. Section 9 (5) of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 provides that the CCPC is independent in the performance of its functions, including carrying out investigations. As investigations and enforcement matters generally are part of the day-to-day operational work of the CCPC, I, as Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation have no direct function in the matter.

However, I understand from the CCPC that it examined a number of consignments (including mobile phone chargers) that were referred by the Customs authorities under Regulation (EC) no 765/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 (setting out the requirements for accreditation and market surveillance relating to the marketing of products). In these consignments where phone chargers were found to be unsafe or not compliant with the requirements of the regulations, the CCPC instructed the Customs authorities to suspend the importation and the products were detained in order to protect consumers.

Matters relating to fake or counterfeit products do not come within the remit of the legislation enforced by the CCPC: they come under the remit of An Garda Síochána, or Revenue and Customs authorities. However, where the CCPC receives information relating to fake or counterfeit products in the course of an investigation that information is forwarded to the relevant authority by the CCPC. I understand that in July 2014 the CCPC uncovered information relating to the sale of possible counterfeit mobile phone chargers in the Cork area and forwarded that information to An Garda Síochána in Cork. An Garda Síochána subsequently conducted their own investigation which resulted in the successful prosecution of the retailer in 2015.

Foreign Direct Investment

Questions (650)

Eamon Scanlon

Question:

650. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her Department and IDA Ireland have identified a client to invest in the new facility at the Finisklin industrial estate in County Sligo which is due for completion at the end of 2016; when an announcement is expected regarding same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39963/16]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

At present, clients have not yet been identified for the new Advance Technology Building at the Finisklin Industrial Estate in County Sligo.

IDA Ireland has assured me, however, that it continues to promote this new facility through its network of overseas offices and in response to specific client queries.

Legislative Programme

Questions (651)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

651. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the name and number of Bills in preparation or published by her Department since May 2016; the stage each Bill is at in the Houses of the Oireachtas; the number of Bills from her Department signed into law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40138/16]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

My Department has a total of 9 Bills listed in the Government legislation programme for the current Dáil Session and they are as follows:

- Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill

- Hallmarking (Amendment) Bill

- Industrial Development (Amendment) Bill

- Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) (Miscellaneous Intellectual Property) Bill

- Amendment of the Constitution (Unified Patent Court) Bill

- Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill

- Statutory Audits Bill

- Organisation of Working Time (Amendment) Bill

- Legislation to improve protections for workers on insecure, low hour contracts

My Department has published two Bills since the Government came to Office on 6 May 2016. The Companies (Accounting) Bill was published on 5 August 2016 and it completed Committee Stage in the Dáil on 22 November 2016. The Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill was published on 4 November and the Bill is currently at Committee stage in the Seanad. I intend publishing the Hallmarking (Amendment) Bill 2016 before the end of 2016.

No Bills from my Department have been signed into law since 6 May 2016.

Decentralisation Programme

Questions (652)

Marc MacSharry

Question:

652. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will provide details of entire units that have been re-centralised back to Dublin in her Department; her Department's rationale for such moves; and if Cabinet approval was sought and given in each case. [40479/16]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

My Department has decentralised certain functions to a variety of locations as outlined in tabular format below.

Functions and locations as stated have not been re-centralised to Dublin.

Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, and its Offices

Location	Office	Decentralisation
Dublin	Head Office	-
Carlow and Dublin	Companies Registration Office.	Decentralised from Dublin to Carlow in stages over the period 2007 to 2010.
Kilkenny	Patents Office.	Decentralised from Dublin to Kilkenny in 1998.
Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Shannon, Sligo	Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) (formerly National Employment Rights Authority (NERA)).	NERA was established in 2007, with headquarters in Carlow and regional offices located in Dublin, Cork, Shannon and Sligo. The WRC was established with effect from 1/10/15, incorporating the National Employment Rights Authority, the Labour Relations Commission, the Equality Tribunal and the first instance functions of the Labour Court and the Employment Appeals Tribunal into a new Body of First Instance.

European Solidarity Corps

Questions (653)

Darragh O'Brien

Question:

653. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on the scope of the EU-wide youth corps, the European Solidarity Corps; if young persons are being invited to enlist now; if the range of activities are predefined or if young persons are signing up to unspecified tasks and commitments which might include defence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39652/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The European Solidarity Corps (ESC), which was recently launched by the European Commission, is conceived to offer people under 30 in Europe the chance to support a non-governmental organisation (NGO), local authority or private company active in addressing challenging situations across the European Union – for instance: rebuilding communities following natural disasters; addressing social challenges such as social exclusion, poverty, health and demographic challenges; or working on the reception and integration of refugees. The ESC will build on existing EU professional and volunteering programmes for youth such as the European Voluntary Service, as well as the mobilisation of established networks of employment, education and civil society actors across Europe. It will be developed in close partnership with Member States, local authorities and NGOs.

Candidates wishing to join the ESC, and entities willing to call on members, will be able to do so via one single entry point: the dedicated European Solidarity Corps web-portal. The objective is to get 100,000 young people signed up to the Corps by 2020. The Corps was subject of discussion and input from young people from across Europe at the recent European Youth Conference. The European Commission provided an input on the proposals at the Youth Working Party meeting in October and the ESC was also raised for information by the Commission at the recent EYCS Council. My Department looks forward to hearing further detail on the development of the Corps and the role young people and youth organisations from Ireland might play in it.

Commissions of Investigation

Questions (654)

Clare Daly

Question:

654. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the legal course of action available to forced or illegally adopted persons here who have been effectively excluded from the commission of investigation. [39380/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The term illegal adoption is sometimes used to cover a wide range of situations, including the incorrect registration of a birth. So the Deputy will appreciate that I am not in a position to provide legal advice to individuals. Any person requiring advices on the legal remedies that may be available to their specific circumstances should consult with an appropriate legal professional.

By way of general advices I would encourage any person seeking information on adoption, or an incorrect registration of a birth, to contact the Adoption Authority of Ireland or the Child and Family Agency’s Community Services in the first instance.

If a person believes that their birth was incorrectly registered they should inform the General Register Office (GRO) as the body responsible for registration of births, who in turn may refer cases of incorrect registrations to the Gardaí for investigation of potential criminal wrongdoing. It is also open to any person with information relating to matters of a potentially criminal nature to report these concerns directly to the Gardaí.

The present Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes is examining the arrangements for the placement of children from such institutions and former county homes. In examining exit pathways, the Commission is investigating the nature of the relationship between mother and baby homes and other key institutions – these include children’s homes; orphanages; and adoption societies, involved in the placement of children. This investigation, and its social history module, will provide a significant insight into the practices and arrangements in being for over almost three-quarters of a century following the foundation of the State.

This examination will identify the extent to which children’s welfare and best interests were considered and whether mothers were facilitated to participate in such decisions. The Commission has sufficient scope to examine both the issue of placing children for adoption at home and abroad, as well as to examine situations in which the child’s parentage was concealed, either by omission or sometimes, by illegal means.

However, it is important to be clear that a Commission of Investigation is not designed or structured to adjudicate on individual behaviours, nor impose penalties, as the legislative basis for a fact-finding Commission does not provide the same constitutional and legal protections for individuals as are present in the criminal justice system. Therefore, a Commission’s investigations are not criminal investigations. That being said, if the Commission’s reports reveal concerns of a potentially criminal nature these will of course be referred to the appropriate investigative and prosecution authorities for any further appropriate action.