Written answers
Tuesday, 6 November 2007
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Business Regulation
9:00 pm
Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 237: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has made a commitment on behalf of Ireland to reduce the cost to business of national regulations by 25% by 2012 at the Spring European Council; the interim targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27172/07]
Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 244: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if Ireland has made a specific commitment to reduce the cost to business of national regulations by 25% by 2012 as called for at the Spring 2007 European Council meeting; the interim targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27151/07]
Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 248: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of times the High-Level Group on Business Regulation has met since the formation of the Government; the members of the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27155/07]
Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 253: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he will make his first annual report outlining the progress he has made in reducing administrative burdens on business as agreed at EU level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27160/07]
Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 254: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has responded to the agreement at EU level by setting a national target for the reduction of administrative burdens on business; the details of that target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27161/07]
Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 257: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will use the international standards cost model in assessing the impact of regulation on industry and business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27164/07]
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 237, 244, 248, 253, 254 and 257 together.
In March this year, the European Council agreed that "administrative burdens arising from EU legislation should be reduced by 25% by 2012. Taking into account the different starting points and traditions the European Council invites Member States to set their own national targets of comparable ambition within their spheres of competence by 2008."
Prior to the Taoiseach's departure for the Spring European Council, the Government agreed that I should lead the cross-Departmental and agency drive, and put in place a mechanism under the Secretary General of my Department, to drive this agenda at national level.
Before setting a definitive target, I intend to consult with other Departments and Agencies on the extent of administrative burdens and on measures that have been undertaken or are planned to reduce that burden.
As part of the effort at national level, earlier this year, I established the High-level Group on Business Regulation, under the chairmanship of the Secretary General of my Department. The High-level Group comprises representatives of Government Departments and Agencies, the business sector and a representative of ICTU. The members are:
| Sean Gorman (Chairman) | Secretary General | Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment |
| Liam Berney | Union Services Officer | Irish Congress of Trade Unions |
| Patricia Callan | Director, SFA | Small Firms Association |
| Marie Daly | Head of Legal and Regulatory Affairs | Irish Business and Employers' Confederation |
| Pat Delaney | Director of Business Sectors | Irish Business and Employers' Confederation |
| Gearoid Doyle | Founder | Kinsale Capital |
| Pat Farrell | Chief Executive Officer | Irish Bankers' Federation |
| Mark Fielding | Chief Executive Officer | Irish Small and Medium Enterprises |
| Liam Irwin | Deputy Secretary, Strategic Planning Division | Revenue Commissioners |
| Philip Kelly | Assistant Secretary | Department of the Taoiseach |
| Irene Lynch Fannon | Professor of Law | Faculty and Department of Law, UCC |
| Steve MacFeely | Director, Business Statistics | Central Statistics Office |
| John O'Connell | Assistant Secretary | Department of Finance |
| Tom O'Mahony | Assistant Secretary | Department of the Environment and Local Government |
| Breda Power | Assistant Secretary | Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment |
The High-level Group has decided to focus initially on ways to reduce, simplify and eliminate unnecessary administrative burdens and associated costs in five priority areas and will capture the savings arising from their work on a case by case basis. The five priority areas are:
Taxation,
Statistical Reporting
Environmental Regulations
Health and Safety Regulations, and
Company and Employment Law.
The five priority areas are those identified in the report of the Business Regulation Forum (BRF), published in April 2007. The approach being taken is in line with the BRF's recommendation that "given the resource implications associated with undertaking a full baseline measurement exercise, a prioritised and selective approach is the most realistic way forward for Ireland".
The High Level Group has met twice so far in 2007, on the 26th of July and the 2nd of October.
I expect the Group to submit an initial report to me by July 2008.
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