Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I do not know how long the author laboured over that answer but one would hardly get away with it during Leaders' Questions. To translate it into understandable English from a business perspective requires some thought.

Since 1999, 11 regulators have been appointed, each of whom has built his or her own little empire in respect of the appropriate area of responsibility. Does the Taoiseach consider the time has come for the appointment of one powerful office of regulation with the capacity to pool resources of knowledge and expertise and which would carry a much greater degree of accountability? Does he believe this is a concept that should be followed?

Ireland is losing out from a business perspective. The report commissioned for the Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise and Small Business observed it takes an average of four days to set up a new business in the United States while the figure for Europe is 38 days. In addition, the cost is much higher in Europe than in the United States. The Dutch authorities have undertaken a detailed analysis on reduction of regulation for business in the EU and its findings are important for Ireland. The Department of the Taoiseach estimates the cost to business of compliance with existing legislation is approximately €4 billion per annum. According to the Government White Paper on regulation, 15% of that burden is avoidable. That is €600 million a year. In the context of a reduction in regulation and making it easier for business to do business in the national interest, does the Taoiseach consider that the Government is doing enough to achieve that? Does he see a role for the Department of Finance and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in focusing on a real reduction in regulation, so that businesses can find it tangibly and demonstrably easier to set up companies and do business without having such a burden pressing down on them? Would there be value in that, given that, according to the Department of the Taoiseach, €600 million could be saved a year?

When does the Taoiseach expect the introduction of proposals to put in place a modern framework for pharmacies? The situation in pharmacy is causing a great deal of concern for qualified people and for those who wish to enter that business.

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