The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is a successor to the long-standing Department of Industry and Commerce, which was established at the foundation of the State. It has had 10 re-configurations since 1977, including the incorporation of employment policy into the department, which had been in the Department of Labour from 1966-1993. The department is seen as an important and economic one.
It has five divisions: competitiveness and jobs; innovation and investment; commerce, consumer and competition; corporate services, employment rights and industrial relations; and EU affairs and trade policy. On 1 June the promotion of foreign trade was transferred to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, specifically the promotion and development of overseas trade, tourism and investment.
The department’s main office is on Kildare Street, Dublin. Departmental, office and agency staff are located in Dublin, Kilkenny and Carlow. Regional National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) staff are situated in Cork, Shannon and Sligo. According to the revised estimates for 2011, the aggregate staff number (including the department’s offices and agencies) is expected to be 2,851 full-time equivalent positions at the end of the year, down from 2,982 at the end of 2010.
Eight offices and 13 agencies come under its remit. Offices include the Labour Court (for investigating industrial disputes), the Employment Appeals Tribunal (to determine matters in disputes on redundancy and other employment legislation) and the National Employment Rights Authority (to ensure employment rights through inspections, information and prosecution) and the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (to improve the compliance environment for corporate activity and bringing to account those who disregard the law).
Agencies under the department’s remit include IDA (which seeks to persuade international companies to invest in Ireland), Enterprise Ireland (which helps to grow the sales and exports of Irish companies), Forfás (the policy advisory board), the county enterprise boards (which support micro-enterprises) and Science Foundation Ireland (which funds and supports scientific engineering research and its infrastructure).
In 2011, from a total gross voted public expenditure of €57.5 billion Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation was allocated €901 million. With €392.5 million in current spending, the department’s allocation is comparatively mid-table. The three biggest non-pay areas of current spending are Enterprise Ireland (€84 million), Forfás (€43 million) and IDA (€39 million).
Its €508 million capital spending allocation is second only to the Departments of Transport and Environment, and includes €85 million for IDA Ireland grants, €71.5 million in Enterprise Ireland grants and €295.3 million on science, technology and innovation programmes.
A department briefing in March 2011, for the new Minister, stated the department plays “a key role in implementing the Government’s policies of stimulating the productive capacity of the economy and creating an environment which supports job creation,” with a remit “to ensure fair competition in the marketplace, protect consumers and safeguard workers.” The Minister is currently considering a draft strategy (2011-2014) for the department.
Bruton’s departmental briefing stated that the key strategic issues were:
• maximisation of job creation and retention through inward investment;
• indigenous enterprise (including protecting Ireland’s interests in trade negotiations); and
• creating a competitive business environment.
The Minister has two Ministers of State: Seán Sherlock (Research and Innovation) and John Perry (Small Businesses). His advisers are Ciarán Conlon (policy) and Conor Quinn (press). Seán Gorman is the department’s Secretary General.
Shadowing the ministers are Fianna Fáil’s Willie O’Dea (enterprise, jobs and innovation) and John McGuinness (small business regulatory framework) and Sinn Féin’s Peadar Tóibín, who is party spokesperson on enterprise, jobs and innovation.
