The Culliton report recommended that my Department, which now includes the former Department of Labour as well as the industry, technology, regulatory and other units of the former Department of Industry and Commerce, should see "its role as being predominately one of policy determination for industrial development, supervision of its implementation and a recognition of the importance of the business-related and regulatory environment". I agree with that recommendation.
The main institutional recommendations in the Culliton report in relation to industrial policy and performance in so far as they relate to my Department covered the advisability of its main role being one of policy determination and supervision; the removal of a number of regulatory and administrative functions; industrial performance review at three yearly intervals should include industrial policy; and better arrangements to improve exchange and contacts with industry and business.
I generally accept these recommendations and I am in the process of implementing them.
As regards the planning unit of the Department, that unit now employs three times the number it employed in June 1991.
The Culliton report itself set the agenda for industrial policy and it is a very wide agenda. It requires a response from a very broad range of Government policies, Departments and agencies.
The Deputy will appreciate that to respond to so broad an agenda for industrial policy and for policy change, is a matter for the Department as a whole and not for any particular unit or division of the Department. All units and divisions of the Department are engaged in policy analysis and appraisal. My officials are ensuring that skills for analysis are upgraded. Appropriate training and courses in analytical and economic appraisal skills are provided.
It is important that the information for policy analysis is of the highest quality. As a large proportion of the information used is gathered administratively from State agencies, I want to acknowledge the support that they give in enabling the analysis, appraisal and planning functions to operate. I consider that further development of the data for policy analysis will be important for this function in my Department.