asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state what, if any, are the duties performed for the State by the Goldsmiths' Corporation of Ireland; whether he has any control over the corporation or responsibility for its activities; whether he has any representative on its governing body; whether the terms of the charter under which the corporation functions have been examined by his Department; and, if so, whether he proposes to introduce proposals for legislation to amend, in accordance with existing circumstances, the obligations and procedure imposed by the charter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Constitution of Goldsmiths' Corporation.
The Goldsmiths' Corporation of Ireland performs no duties for the State as such, but it assays and hallmarks gold and silver wares and carries out other functions incidental thereto, in the interests of the community generally. The Government exercises no supervision or control over, and has no responsibility for, the activities of the Corporation, nor is there any representative of the Government on the governing body.
The Charter of the Corporation has been examined in my Department and it is not proposed to introduce legislation to amend the present position. No representations have ever been made for new legislation, but I am always prepared to consider any proposal on the subject.