Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

The Davidson review was a very comprehensive report which made a number of recommendations on best practice in the implementation of EU legislation. Is it not the case that this report highlighted unnecessary costs for business in respect of regulatory creep and the over-implementation of regulations coming from Europe? Is it not the case that this is a huge concern not just for the business community in Ireland but for the public in general?

Why has the Taoiseach not included sectors such as agriculture in the review which he has instigated? Is it not the case that we have an upcoming health check in this area next year? This would be an ideal time to review the regulatory impact of European bureaucracy in agriculture and the environment. I know the Taoiseach touched on this area in his initial response.

Our system is inadequate from the perspective of EU scrutiny. What steps will be taken to ensure that this creeping bureaucracy is not introduced in various sectors of Irish society? What specific measures will the Taoiseach put in place in advance of the tabling of the EU reform treaty? Is it not the case that one of the biggest issues that will come up in respect of this treaty is bureaucracy? This is brought on us because Ministers have time and again blamed Europe for introducing rules and regulations when in fact it is the transposition of those regulations by those same Ministers into Irish law that has caused the difficulty. How are we going to address the issue of the interpretation of EU directives by the Government in Ireland, which, in the vast majority of cases, is causing the problem for people when they try to comply with these regulations on the ground?

See this speech in context