Enterprise Ireland
Annual Report and Accounts 2005
Annual Report and Accounts 2005
Enterprise Ireland is a body corporate established by the Industrial Development (Enterprise Ireland) Act 1998. As a statutory body, it is endowed with a separate legal personality and perpetual succession. It also has the capacity to own property, make contracts, sue and be sued in its corporate name. The members of the Board of Enterprise Ireland constitute the members of the agency.
The agency operates in accordance with the provisions of the Industrial Development Acts 1986 – 2003 and under the aegis of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment who is empowered to provide funds to the agency to enable it to discharge its obligations; to issue general policy directives; and to seek information on the agency’s activities.
In addition to its own governing legislation, the agency is also required to comply with a range of other statutory (National and EU) and administrative requirements. In particular, it has put in place procedures to ensure compliance with the following specific requirements:
Enterprise Ireland has put in place procedures to ensure that it fully complies with this Code of Practice.
Enterprise Ireland has well-established, robust, procedures for the appraisal and management of capital expenditure projects arising under its capital grants programmes. These procedures comply with the principles set out in the guidelines.
Regulations were signed into law on 30th March 2001, providing for the extension of the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) to Enterprise Ireland. This Act provides a legal right to individuals to obtain access to information held by public bodies, to the greatest extent possible, consistent with the public interest and the right to privacy. However, the Act provides strong protections for individuals or companies who supply information to Enterprise Ireland that is confidential, commercially sensitive or personal. Such information cannot be released under FOI without those who supplied the information being consulted. There is also a right of appeal to the Information Commissioner, who is an independent authority for FOI matters. Further information on the implementation of FOI at Enterprise Ireland is available from the Government Relations and FOI Office, Enterprise Ireland, Glasnevin, Dublin 9 and is also available on our website at www.enterprise-ireland.com.
In accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, Enterprise Ireland has put in place procedures to comply with the provisions of the Act and has prepared a safety statement that encompasses all of the aspects affecting staff and visitor welfare.
Enterprise Ireland is not a designated body for the purposes of the Act. However, Enterprise Ireland has put consultative processes in place involving the Trade Unions representing staff.
Enterprise Ireland comes under the remit of the Prompt Payment of Accounts Act, 1997, which came into effect on 2nd January 1998, and the European Communities (Late Payment in Commercial Transactions) Regulations 2002, which came into effect on 7th August 2002. It is the policy of Enterprise Ireland to ensure that all invoices are paid promptly. Specific provisions are in place to enable all invoices to be tracked and to ensure that payments are made before their due date for interest and charges purposes. Invoices are logged daily and weekly payment runs are carried out to ensure prompt payment. These controls are designed to provide reasonable, though not absolute assurance against non-compliance with the Act and Regulations.
Enterprise Ireland enters into written contracts in a number of areas. The payment period applicable for these contracts ranges from 1 to 14 days.
During 2005 there were no late payments.
Enterprise Ireland was brought within the scope of the Ethics in Public Office (Prescribed Public Bodies, Designated Directorships of Public Bodies and Designated Positions in Public Bodies) Regulations 2004 (S.I. No 699 of 2004) with effect from 1st January 2005 and has put in place procedures to comply with the Act.
Enterprise Ireland is registered as a data controller under the Data Protection Acts. Data protection is concerned with the protection of the individual’s fundamental right to privacy and to exercise control over how personal information is used. Applications in relation to personal information may be made under either the Freedom of Information Acts or under the Data Protection Acts. Further information is available from the Government Relations and FOI Office, Enterprise Ireland, Glasnevin, Dublin 9.
Enterprise Ireland is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and adopts a positive
approach to equality in the organisation. Enterprise Ireland operates a number of schemes that provide staff with options in relation to meeting their career and personal needs, such as job sharing, study leave, educational programmes and career breaks.
In 2005, Enterprise Ireland administered a range of programmes which are eligible for co-funding by EU Structural Funds under the Productive Sector Operational Programme, Employment and Human Resource Development Operational Programme, and the two Regional Operational Programmes for the Southern and Eastern and Border, Midlands and West regions.
Enterprise Ireland comes under the remit of the Official Languages Act 2003 which was signed into law on 14th July 2003 to provide a statutory framework for the delivery of services through the Irish Language. In accordance with Section 10 of the Act, this Annual Report is published simultaneously in Irish and English.
Enterprise Ireland’s activities impact on the environment in two main ways:
Running the organisation: Through an Environmental Management programme, Enterprise Ireland manages the environmental impacts relevant to its activities. By the establishment and review of environmental objectives and targets, Enterprise Ireland aims to continuously improve its environmental performance in areas of its activities which are appropriate and economically viable. The Enterprise Ireland Environmental Policy is available to interested parties on request.
Supporting Irish Business: Enterprise Ireland is pro-active in stimulating high environmental standards among client companies.
It is Enterprise Ireland’s policy to make information available on Financial Support payments that have been made to client companies. A supplement to this Report, listing all such payments made by Enterprise Ireland in 2005, is available on request.
A schedule of investments at cost as at 31st December 2005 showing individual amounts in excess of €0.635 million is disclosed in Appendix 1 attached to the Financial Statements.
Frank Ryan, Chief Executive Officer
