Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This relates to a European directive the purpose of which is to advance animal welfare and ensure it is upheld even where animals are used for scientific purposes. As a general point it is appropriate that businesses pay for the cost of their own regulation as this is a principle that applies across the economy. This is a good thing because if businesses do not pay for their own regulation the cost will fall to the taxpayer and taxpayers' money should be used for better things.

I think the essence of Deputy Mulherin's point is the regulation is being interpreted differently in Ireland than in other European countries and as a result the fees are higher with more administrative delays. This may be a cause for concern because Irish research businesses should not be at a disadvantage when compared to European competitors that are bound by the same laws. I can arrange for the Deputy to meet the lead official on this in the coming weeks to see if something can be done to modify fees or change the system for future years.

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