Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

The reason the chairman of Anglo Irish Bank Corporation plc decided to make those comments was that in 2001 the Taoiseach was briefed on better regulation for businesses. Since then we have not seen much action. The Minister has set up a high level group, which I acknowledged. The Minister for Finance did a few things in the budget in line with suggestions we have been making on this side of the House for a while. I acknowledge the good start that has been made but some issues, which relate to competitiveness and regulation, go back as far as 2001. Six or seven years is long enough to be waiting for change on common sense issues. Will the Minister revisit the better regulation document and indicate whether it is now relevant to dealing with regulation issues relating to small business or whether he has a new agenda?

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