Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would like to ask a question about regulation. It seems that every time legislation is passed by the two Houses of the Oireachtas, someone says "somebody should do something about that". That is why we introduce new regulations. I suggest that as soon as we do so, we restrict the opportunity for somebody to respond. Consumers are always looking for more control. The French authorities have come up with the concept that the same regulations should not apply to companies that employ fewer than 50 people. It seems to me that small companies can start off without anything like the same regulations. If we listen to Myrtle Allen speaking about the food business in the Ballymaloe area, we will learn that small producers are frustrated to encounter the same regulations as very large producers. Is there anything we can do about this? I know the difficulty is that companies employing 49 people will be concerned about encountering additional regulations if they choose to expand to 50 employees. This problem seems to have been overcome in France. How can we do something about reducing the regulations faced by very small businesses?