Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

On the first point, the preliminary results from the review of the operation of the RIA process seem to indicate that in the region of 70 assessments have been produced since its introduction. Some 70 full RIAs have been produced across Departments and offices, although I do not know if they have been produced on the websites. Also, they have looked at areas from the preliminary results of the review to bring about considerable improvements.

With regard to the red tape initiative, a number of areas come under my jurisdiction, including the Statute Book, the consolidation of Acts, the simplification of statutes and the chronological tables. These initiatives are well advanced, but it will probably take another year or two to get them entirely up to date. The advances made have significantly assisted business, but there are many other areas to be dealt with, for example, taxation on which the Tánaiste introduced a number of initiatives this year and last year to simplify matters.

Work remains to be done also to simplify the area of enterprise, trade and employment and company law. I am not sure where the next company law Bill, which is a very large Bill, stands. A huge range of issues must be simplified in that area for business. A significant amount of work has been done, but the remaining parts must be legislated for. Company law legislation will be essential.

In response to Deputy Gilmore's question, as I understand it, because of all that goes on, the Minister wanted to review the entire area. He believes it is appropriate to do this in a single legislative Act, rather than just in a section in the Bill as the Deputy suggested. It will take some months before that review is complete, therefore, I do not expect to see the Bill this side of the summer.

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