Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

A number of points were raised. For the reasons I have given, it was the view of the cross-departmental better regulation group that at this stage a super regulator was not the way to go. While that was the conclusion it reached for the reasons I have given, it was not entirely ruled out in that as new regulators came into play, they would be grouped where there was a suitable mix. Rather than having a separate regulator each time, wherever the group believed there was capacity, they would match them. The cross-departmental better regulation group went against the proposal of a super regulator, which Ahead of the Curve recommended. The RIA process has been in place since 21 June. Therefore, all new regulations and statutory instruments are being examined to see if there is another or better way to do them. That process is happening in all Departments and my Department assists any that need assistance. That part is done and under way.

The third point raised by the Deputy concerns a question that arises on another day. It is later down the line and concerns the Competition Authority's examination of the professions. The authority has provided preliminary and draft reports on a number of professions. Final reports, including that on pharmacists, are on the way.

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