Vol. 414 No. 9
4 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in regard to the industrial policy review group, which was established on 27 June 1991 he will outline the number of meetings of the group held to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The review group to which the Deputy refers was asked by me to give an independent view of the range of policies and measures needed for a better development of industry and of traded services sectors. I have no function in relation to the groups conduct of its review. However, I am informed that there have been seven full meetings of the group and many other meetings involving the chairman and other members to deal with various aspects of the matters under consideration by the group.
I have already indicated my intention to publish the report of the group as soon as possible in the New Year. I will issue a statement at that time.
In view of the fact that the unemployment out-turn for next year is officially projected at 275,000 may I ask the Minister if he accepts that this question is absolutely central and critical to tackling that unemployment crisis? Whereas all of us in this House accept that too much of the Minister's energy is taken up in trying to keep the Government on the not-so-straight-and-narrow, would the Minister not agree that primary responsibility for the unemployment problem rests with him as Minister for Industry and Commerce and that it is imperative that some proposals for revision and change in our industrial strategy are brought before the House as quickly as possible?
This review group have worked extremely hard over the past six months. The chairman, to whom I spoke about the matter yesterday, has told me that they will complete their report at the end of the year and that it should be handed to me during the first week in January. I propose to publish the report very shortly after that. I hope the report will help to initiate a national debate on many of these matters. I have not yet seen the report but I believe it will be quite radical in its approach to many of the serious problems. I hope it will stimulate a useful and constuctive debate and that in the course of 1992 we will see many of its recommendations implemented.
I welcome the Minister's reply. I also welcome the prospect of a national debate being stimulated by this report. Would the Minister not agree that we have had a great deal of debate over the past ten years, that there is general consensus that we are getting very bad value for the huge sum spent on industrial policy and that there is an urgency for us to bring specific recommendations for change before the House as distinct from waiting for the outcome of more debate? Finally, does he envisage any of the radical changes he presages deriving from this report giving rise to the necessity for legislative change in this House?
I cannot of course reply to the last part of the Deputy's question until I see the report but I would be surprised if several of the recommendations did not require legislative change. It is likely that many of the recommendations will require legislative change of a kind that cannot be promoted just by me as Minister for Industry and Commerce. I imagine it will also suggest extensive legislative changes that will have to be promoted by other Ministers. I hope to have the report discussed by the Government as a whole as quickly as possible in order that a collective view can be formed on it, because I have no doubt from the terms of reference I gave to the review group that they will be dealing with matters that are outside the scope of the Department of Industry and Commerce.
