Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The programme for Government states, "We will require Departments to carry out and publish Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs) before Government decisions are taken". As the Deputy is aware, regulatory impact assessments involve an examination of the likely impact of proposed new regulations or regulatory changes. They help to identify side-effects or hidden costs associated with regulation and clarify the likely outcome of proposed changes. During the assessment process everyone affected is entitled to ensure his or her views and interests are understood.

All Bills have not been referred to the Cabinet or Oireachtas committees prior to publication. My Department is taking the lead in this matter and will consult all other Departments on it. I expect that the process in this regard will be completed in the autumn. The Government will then consider how to implement what is proposed. The heads of Bills are being published more frequently. This is not happening as often as I would like, but they are being published more frequently and referred to the relevant Oireachtas committees, which is good. Where committees have considered the heads of Bills, they have made some very pertinent points. The quality of the consultation in this regard has assisted the process relating to taking a Bill on Second and Committee Stages, when matters go that far.

I referred to the multifaceted nature of the overall regulation agenda and the need for certainty regarding the allocation of responsibilities. In that regard, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation has responsibility for reducing red tape and administrative burdens, dealing with competition issues and representing Ireland at EU-OECD international fora dealing with regulation, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has responsibility for dealing with regulatory impact assessments, that is, training, support, monitoring and compliance, while the Department of the Taoiseach has responsibility for dealing with the effectiveness of economic regulators. In addition, the Department of the Taoiseach and the Office of the Attorney General have responsibility for dealing with the transparency and quality of regulation.

As I have already informed the Deputy, my Department is involved in consultations with all other Departments and we expect to conclude the process by early autumn. We will then make a Government decision on implementing the programme and see to it that all Departments publish regulatory impact assessments before Government decisions are taken.

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