Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

These questions relate to the OECD report on regulatory reform, which was published in 2001. When that report was published eight years ago, the then Tánaiste and Minister responsible for enterprise and employment, Deputy Harney, said she would accept all the recommendations and that she would have them implemented. From what I can establish, the only recommendation implemented from the report was the abolition of the groceries order. I cannot find much trace of any of the other recommendations being implemented.

For example, there were recommendations on the regulation of the legal professions and very little progress appears to have been made on them. The Competition Authority published an interim report on changes to the professions about two years ago and a final report in December. Aside from reports, there were discussions between the Bar Council and the Competition Authority but there does not appear to have been a great deal of progress in that regard.

What progress is being made on the implementation of the OECD report on regulatory reform? Is the Government still committed to the recommendations in the report and will the Taoiseach update the House on what is happening specifically with regard to regulation of the legal professions, for example?

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