Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)

The Taoiseach did not answer Deputy Kenny's specific question about the number of recommendations from the 2001 OECD report that have been implemented by the Government either wholly or partially and the ones that remain untouched. It is important this information is provided to the House.

Does the Taoiseach accept Deputy Kenny's point regarding the Statute Law Revision Bill that it will have little impact on many of the impediments that still exist in terms of over-regulation because most of the laws being tackled under that Bill predate the type of mania in regulation that has come from Acts of this House, especially in recent years?

The Taoiseach referred to the existence of too many regulators. Is it not the case that his Government passed most of the legislation bringing many of these regulators into existence? It appears regulators have been used as a shield to hide behind to prevent questions being answered in this House? I cite the example of the electricity regulator not allowing renewable energy onto the national grid. If the Taoiseach is sincere about reducing the number of regulators, will we see legislation in this area in the near future?

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