Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

On the overall issue raised by Senator Walsh, we are striving to reduce the regulatory burden and have set down a 25% reduction in the regulatory burden on businesses. I want to achieve this and will make some further pronouncements on it fairly soon. We all would like to see simplification in life. That work will continue on the Consolidation Bill because entrepreneurs are unusual people who have great ideas but whose idea of compliance might be that they pay their taxes and that is the limit to it. Businesses are frustrated and feel that these matters are an annoyance but it is important that we continue to invest in educating people. The Director of Corporate Enforcement holds seminars and the Company Registration Office does this kind of work. We as politicians need to reiterate this when it comes to the question of compliance. We are striving towards consolidation and simplification, and reducing the burden on small family businesses because they are the bread and butter of much of our society, particularly in rural areas, but we do not want to deter people from continuing in business and using their acumen. By necessity, even constitutional rights remain within the framework of all the legislation.