Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Does the Taoiseach agree that the entire regulatory reform agenda needs to be re-assessed? Is he aware the Government website on this matter states:

[R]egulatory reform is helping Ireland to manage the consequences of fast growth and to build new capacities to sustain growth into the future. For example, regulatory reform is seen as a way to open up important infrastructure and policy bottlenecks.

It also speaks of labour shortages. I suggest it is written for different times than the very difficult economic circumstances in which we are currently. Would the Taoiseach indicate that this issue will be revisited? I have seen this - it is exemplified on many occasions - as part of a failed policy in support of the privatisation of public services, because time after time it has been suggested public is bad and private is good. Would the Taoiseach see as completely unacceptable the policy of the European Union, as interpreted by the European Court of Justice, has led to local authorities in this State having their VAT exemption taken from them in the Finance Bill? It was done under the guise of so-called benefits to the consumer and to foster competition. The reality is this will lead to greater costs for the consumer. It will not result in reduced costs for the individual consumer regarding the services currently provided by local authorities. We will see this policy unfold over the time ahead.

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