Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 87: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of meetings of the Business Regulation Group which have taken place to date; the action which has been taken arising from those meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17886/06]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 123: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the areas of Government regulation for which he is responsible that he considers unwieldy or anti-small business; if he intends to instigate reform in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17894/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 123 together.

The first stage in the strategy of ensuring that the regimes that regulate business are proportionate, effective and efficient is to gather evidence as a basis for framing and delivering reform. I set up two complementary bodies to achieve this end, the Business Regulation Forum and the Small Business Forum:

Business Regulation Forum

The BRF has been operational since November 2005. It is a standing dialogue on regulatory issues between Government and business and was established on the basis that it be a problem-solving entity and would identify areas where regulatory reform was necessary. The goal of the BRF for end-2006 is to draw on the experience and expertise of its members and on evidence-based analysis to develop an agreed report on achieving a measurable reduction in the regulatory compliance burden for businesses. The BRF has met 5 times to date towards that end. Its work programme for 2006 will draw, inter alia, on the following elements: An analysis of submissions received on existing regulatory burdens; Advancing the target of measuring administrative burdens on business in Ireland; A review of existing authoritative recommendations for regulatory reform; Contributing to the design and carrying out of a Business Satisfaction Survey; and International benchmarking of best regulatory practice. Work is in train on each of these strands.

Small Business Forum

Last Summer I set up the Small Business Forum (SBF) to examine the current environment for conducting small business in Ireland. We now have some 250,000 small businesses in Ireland providing more than half of private sector employment — that's almost 800,000 jobs, nearly double the level of a decade earlier and it is very important that we sustain the dynamic growth of small business. Yesterday, Joe Macri, the Chairman of the SBF, presented me with their report which sets out a robust analysis of the issues facing small business and proposes a set of measures to address these. I am delighted to confirm that I am seeking to implement all the recommendations that fall within my Department's remit, including Raising the standard of management capability through the establishment of a Management Development Council. Providing Knowledge Acquisitions Grants Making Innovation Vouchers available to small business Developing a National Entrepreneurship Policy Developing networks of Business Angels Compiling and publishing comprehensive data on the small business sector.

Over the coming months I will work closely with my Government colleagues to look at an implementation path for the remaining recommendations.

In order to ensure that the implementation process is as seamless as possible I intend to invite the members of the Forum to remain in place to act as a body in respect of the implementation of the Report.