Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Currently we are transposing around nine EU directives into Irish law. What is the breakdown of those directives? I have not seen anyone carrying out regulatory impact assessments. It is difficult to find out who is in charge of a section in the Department and who analyses the impact of the various EU directives that are being transposed into Irish law. Who is responsible for this?

On the administrative burden for small firms, statistics in a report by the Bruegel think tank in Europe showed only 1.2% of European businesses are classified as large companies. The remaining 98.8% of EU businesses are small and medium enterprises and of those, 92.1% employ fewer than ten people. The focus of the Department, however, seems to be on Enterprise Ireland and the IDA. The report also stated that 85% of all new employment will be created by SMEs and the vast bulk of SMEs employ fewer than ten people. The emphasis is totally placed on companies with in excess of 50 employees, but the bulk of new employment will come from those companies with fewer than 50 employees. I see nothing to give me any hope that the Department recognises that.

Almost 85% of administration costs are associated with EU directives. In 2008, the Government decided to reduce the administrative burden on businesses by 25% by 2012, irrespective of any change in Government. That was the policy that was to be part and parcel of planning in the Department. Are we close to achieving that target considering the burden of administrative costs is very high for small companies?

EU procurement was mentioned. No section of the Department seems to be responsible for procurement, it appears to be the responsibility of the OPW. Is there any contact between the OPW and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation? How regularly do they meet?