Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 8 together.

The Government published the White Paper, Regulating Better, in 2004. It provides a framework for advancing the better regulation agenda in Ireland. Some of the recommendations and actions outlined in the OECD report and the White Paper relate specifically to individual sectors and relevant Ministers are responsible for reporting directly to the House in regard to them.

The better regulation unit in my Department is tasked with the promotion of the better regulation agenda across Government. In this context, it is currently co-ordinating the Government input to the review of Ireland's regulatory systems and processes being undertaken by the OECD. The review is being conducted as part of a set of similar reviews covering the original 15 EU member states which is being funded by the EU Commission and covers issues such as regulatory impact analysis, administrative burden reduction and approaches to enforcement.

I would like to also briefly refer to other work the unit is carrying out. It recently published a Government Statement on economic regulation providing a framework for the future development of economic regulation in Ireland. It covers issues such as governance and accountability; the appropriateness of structures and mandates; cost effectiveness and engagement with stakeholders. Particular actions include the establishment of a forum which will provide a direct interface on a yearly basis for senior Ministers and key economic regulators to discuss Government priorities and enhance the responsiveness of the regulatory environment to changing economic and social factors. In addition, relevant Ministers will now be statutorily required to review the roles and mandates of regulators every five years. Ministers will also approve planned expenditure by regulators, including any industry levies, following consultation with stakeholders. In the aviation sector, the Minister for Transport will bring forward legislation to merge the Commission for Aviation Regulation and the regulatory functions of the Irish Aviation Authority with the planned National Transport Authority.

Work is also continuing on the Statute Law Revision Project, which is steered by my Department in partnership with the Office of the Attorney General. The Statute Law Revision Bill 2009 recently completed Committee Stage in this House and deals with local and personal Acts up to and including the year 1850 and private Acts up to and including the year 1750. The Minister of State, Deputy Carey, expects to bring forward the Bill on Report and Final Stage this Thursday. These private Acts are those which are concerned with the affairs of a single individual or body, and local and personal Acts are concerned with matters affecting a very limited section of the community such as a single local authority or company. The current Bill provides for the express repeal of more than 1,350 such Acts. This is in addition to the almost 3,500 public and general Acts which were already repealed by the Statute Law Revision Acts of 2005 and 2007.

In addition to the work being undertaken on statute law revision, individual Ministers are also undertaking significant consolidation projects including in the key areas of company law and customs legislation. Revised RIA guidelines have now been published and take account, in particular, of the need for improved quantitative analysis and for the increased use of RIA to evaluate draft EU legislative proposals.

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