asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the functions of the Industrial Development Authority, Córas Tráchtála, the IIRS and the Irish Goods Council and to which he is (a) answerable to the Dáil and (b) not answerable to the Dáil.
Written Answers. - Semi-State Bodies Functions.
81.
The functions of the Industrial Development Authority are set out in the Industrial Development Act 1986; those of Córas Tráchtála are set out in the Export Promotion Act, 1959, and in amendments to this Act in 1963, 1967, 1969, 1971 and 1983; and those of the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards are set out in the Industrial Research and Standards Act, 1961. The Irish Goods Council is a non-statutory body. Its functions are set out in its Memorandum of Association.
The rationale behind the establishment of non-commercial State sponsored bodies to carry out executive functions of Government is to provide a greater degree of flexibility and freedom than is normally available within the Civil Service and to free Ministers from responsibility for the decisions which the boards and staff of the bodies take in the day-to-day administration of their responsibilities.
Insofar as the work of the bodies, referred to by the Deputy is concerned, I am answerable to the Dáil for the overall policy including the legislation under which they operate and also for the Exchequer allocations provided to them. I am not answerable to the Dáil in relation to the specifics of the day-to-day operations of the bodies.