The government has decided to maintain the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) as a subordinate agency under the Executive Yuan instead of making it an independent institution, a government official said yesterday.
Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺), chairman of the Cabinet's Research, Development and Evaluation Commission (RDEC), made the comments at a press conference held after a meeting by the task force charged with reviewing the Organic Act of the Executive Yuan (行政院組織法) to promote government restructuring.
“The decision was made amid concern that the FSC needs to cooperate with the Executive Yuan in drafting financial policies, but the Executive Yuan will respect the independent operation of the commission in overseeing financial regulation,” Jiang said.
The Organic Standard Act of Central Government Agencies (中央行政機關組織基準法) states that commissions shall independently exercise their authority and shall not be subject to any government agency's command, supervision or interference.
The heads of these commissions are nominated by the premier, confirmed by the legislature and must serve full time during their tenure.
Based on these standards, the National Communications Commission — the agency responsible for regulating developments in the communications and information industry — is the sole independent establishment, Jiang said.
Whether the central bank, the Fair Trade Commission and the Central Election Commission will be accorded the same position is still under discussion, he said.
Other conclusions reached at the fourth meeting of the task force included setting up a commission on ocean policy under the Cabinet to coordinate ocean-related activities involving central government agencies and to establish an office under the Executive Yuan to handle gender-equality issues, Jiang said.
The commission on ocean policy will be charged with affairs in connection with national maritime security and the development of marine resources and the marine industry, he said.
Jiang said the task force dropped a proposal to set up a standing commission on gender equality under the Cabinet and decided to maintain the ad hoc commission on the protection of rights and interests of women led by Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄).
“The decision was made as women's rights activists preferred the ad hoc commission, which was regarded a more effective mechanism to make sure each government agency would embrace the concept of gender equality in its policies under the leadership of Liu,” Jiang said.
He said the RDEC would suggest the Cabinet downsize about one-third of its subordinate agencies in its proposed amendment, expected by Feb. 20.
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