Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 October 2017
15. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the powers she has delegated to the Ministers of State in her Department; the date on which such delegation was made; if there were changes in powers delegated relative to the situation in place prior to 14 June 2017; if so, the details of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42773/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 20 June, the Taoiseach re-appointed Mr. John Halligan T.D. and Mr. Pat Breen T.D. as Ministers of State with responsibility for policy areas under the remit of my Department.
On 26 July, the Government made orders for the delegation of Ministerial functions to Ministers Halligan and Breen at my request.
Minister Halligan has been delegated responsibility for Innovation, Research and Development, IRD, and will oversee implementation of the Government's national strategy in this area, Innovation 2020. He has been given responsibility for the delivery of IRD programmes across the agencies of my Department and the development of a successor to the Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions. He has also been delegated responsibility for Ireland's membership of International Research Organisations and the European Space Agency in addition to sectoral research initiatives that my Department is involved in, Ireland's engagement with the EU Framework Programme in Research and Innovation, Horizon 2020, and maintaining an Intellectual Property framework aimed at promoting and rewarding creativity, supporting innovative activity and improving the business environment.
These areas of responsibility are similar to what had been delegated to Minister Halligan prior to June 2017. Statutory Instrument No. 363 of 2017, entitled, "Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No 3) Order 2017", sets out in detail the specific areas of responsibility that Minister Halligan has.
Minister Breen has again been assigned responsibility for Industrial Relations legislation, the industrial relations machinery of the State as well as the Workplace Relations Act 2015. He also has responsibility for ensuring a renewed focus on Occupational Health and Safety matters and on Chemical Policy matters. He has been delegated responsibility for Ireland's engagement with the International Labour Organisation and for a range of issues of relevance to business and Small and Medium Enterprises, including leading efforts to reduce the administrative burden on business. Following his reappointment, Minister Breen has additionally been given responsibility for the Digital Single Market.
Minister Breen had previously been delegated responsibility for Employment Rights and associated legislation, and for the Low Pay Commission and their programme of work in relation to the National Minimum Wage. As responsibility for these areas has now transferred to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, they are no longer part of Minister Breen's responsibilities.
Statutory Instrument No. 362 of 2017, entitled, "Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No 2) Order 2017", sets out in detail the specific areas of responsibility that Minister Breen has.
