The permanent secretary of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Mr Bruce Robinson, has been setting out the proposed timetable for the as yet unnamed economic development "super agency", which is to replace the IDB, LEDU, the Industrial Research and Technology Unit (IRTU), and part of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. The merging of the existing agencies is part of Enterprise Minister Sir Reg Empey's blueprint for fast-track growth. Its replacement will be a single body which would be independent of government but responsible to it. The IDB, LEDU and IRTU combined have a staff of more than 700 people, and a combined annual budget of around £185 million sterling (#292 million). A consultative document came down strongly in favour of replacing the existing structures with one single body. It admitted the existing bodies were functioning satisfactorily, but said greater efficiencies could be achieved by creating one super-agency. Speaking at the annual dinner of the Ulster Society of Chartered Accountants, Mr Robinson, who was until last year chief executive of the IDB, said that subject to the level of scrutiny and consultation required, it was hoped that the necessary legislation would be passed by the end of this year, with the formal establishment of the agency at the beginning of 2002. "As a non-departmental public body, the new agency will have its own board with executive powers," he said. "This will mean, for example, that it will be able to employ key specialists with speed and flexibility."
However, accountability would still be an important issue and a balance between the necessary control and proper freedom to do the job would be necessary. He said work was under way on future structure, staffing and accommodation. "The timetable is ambitious," he said, "and while we are keen to implement the proposal as quickly as possible, it is vitally important that the structure and delivery mechanisms are right. Consultation will be extensive during the legislative process."
"The mainstay of the agency's focus," he said, "will be the promotion and encouragement of innovation and entrepreneurship in the economy. We have talent in abundance in our people and having exported it for years, we now want to make it our asset base."
The new super agency is likely to be headed by a recruit from the private sector, who will spearhead an agency with the broad brief of promoting and supporting innovation and entrepreneurship.
According to Sir Reg the new organisation will create a culture, with "the golden thread of innovation woven through its entire fabric".
"The mainstay of the new agency's focus," he said, "will be the promotion of and support for innovation and entrepreneurship in the economy". The salaries of the chief executives of DETI agencies - such as Leslie Ross, Mr Robinson's successor at the IDB, and Chris Buckland of LEDU - are linked to the senior civil service pay bandings and range from £60,000 to £85,000. There has been speculation that to attract the right candidate could require a salary in the region of more than £200,000. Although the new agency will have independent powers to recruit specialised staff and administer grants from its £200 million budget, it will be accountable to the Minister in meeting its targets set out in operational 12-month plans and three-year corporate strategies. Sir Reg said that while major functions would be centralised in Belfast, regional offices were necessary.
