asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy the date on which the Industrial Development Consortium held their last meeting and if he will summarise the consortium's achievements to date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Development Consortium.
8.
The Industrial Development Consortium held their last meeting on 29 November 1978. The consortium's consideration of a large variety of proposals related to industrial development has led to the setting up of sub-groups where work has been, and is, continuing. These sub-groups are studying methods to encourage growth in industrial and service activities and to remove obstacles to development in specific sectors of industry, such as timber processing, toolmaking, telecommunications, fish farming and fish processing, processing of agricultural products.
In regard to measures to encourage growth in industrial activities generally, the main thrust of the consortium and their sub-groups has been in the areas of import substitution and products development.
Following consideration by the consortium of problems of the Dublin inner city area, a sub-group was set up to examine these problems in depth. Arising from the report of this sub-group, the Government decided in May 1979 to establish an inner city group to develop a programme of action by the various Departments and public agencies operating in the inner city area. To underpin this programme and to accelerate the pace of action in dealing with inner city problems, the Government made a special allocation of £1 million for this programme in 1979.
Also following consideration by the consortium, the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards are setting up a national boiler testing service operating from four centres—Dublin and Cork, commenced October 1979; Sligo and Shannon, commencing January 1980.
This service will create directly 25 jobs for graduates and 300 skilled manual jobs; lead to a reduction in oil consumption and, therefore, of imports; lead to greater profitability resulting from improved efficiency in energy utilisation.
Finally, on the industrial training side, the consortium have given impetus to the setting up of a number of advanced industrial training units.
Why have the body not met for 12 months?
Does the material which the Minister has been reading out to the House make him feel justified in attaching the honoured name of Seán Lemass to this consortium? It is supposed to be a Seán Lemass-type consortium and it has not met for a year.
It has established ten sub-groups who have met constantly about various matters. It is getting on very well.
Do any of these sub-groups consist of persons engaged whole-time in the work of the sub-group or are they anything more than informal interdepartmental groups of public servants?
I doubt if any of them are full-time. It would not be their function to be full-time on it.
Would it be unfair to say of this ghost organisation that it is as redundant as a ghost organisation in this country can be? To the extent that it has done anything it is merely tripping over the IDA.
Its purpose was to co-ordinate the activities of a large number of these agencies. It has done so successfully. The Deputy may be aware but may not like to be reminded that the rate of net industrial job creation in the first six months of 1979 is equal to the entire net industrial job creation in the 12 months of 1978 which, in turn, was the best year we ever had.
Thanks to the IDA.
In so far as the industrial consortium made a contribution to that it is very welcome.
In what respect do the IDA require co-ordination from this ghost organisation which does not even have a telephone?
The IDA is very glad of the opportunity for liaison with many other organisations represented on these groups.
I have not noticed them saying so. It is obliged to carry the nuisance of this ghost organisation merely because it figured in an election manifesto. It is the fifth wheel on the industrial coach.
Is this duplicating the work of the Irish Goods Council?
No, it is not.
(Interruptions.)
Order.
The Minister does not know what it is doing; it has not met.
Are they involved in import substitution?
The Irish Goods Council are concerned with the promotion and sale of Irish goods among other things in substitution for imports. The industrial development consortium is concerned with promoting the manufacture of goods here in substitution for imports. The manufacture and sale of goods are different matters.
Has the Irish Goods Council transmogrified into one of the sub-groups that have met?
It takes its place in some of them where it is relevant.
The Minister does not even care about the bodies his Department have spawned.