Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 168: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to review the regulatory regimes to better assist small and medium size businesses to conduct their affairs. [18767/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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There are number of commitments in the Programme for Government relating to regulatory reform. Insofar as my Department is concerned, the Government has agreed that I should lead the effort across Government to reduce the administrative burden (or 'red tape' factor) on business, including small and medium sized firms arising from regulations.

In July 2007 year, I established the High-level Group on Business Regulation whose role is to seek concrete actions to reduce administrative burdens on business in five policy areas i.e. Taxation, Statistics, Environment, Health and Safety and Employment & Company Law. The Group comprises representatives of the business sector, trade union and relevant Government Departments and Agencies. In particular the Group will seek to respond to specific suggestions from the business sector. I am expecting a first report from the Group in July 2008.

In March 2008, the Government agreed to set a target to reduce the administrative burden of regulations on business of 25% by 2012. Again my Department has been asked to lead on this project. My Department is currently devising the approach and methodology to be used across Government and for reporting on progress. Initially, all Departments will be required to list the Information Obligations which their regulations impose on business. From that listing, Departments will assess which requirements are the most burdensome and will then measure the actual cost to business of the most burdensome requirements. Finally Departments will be required to propose ways to reduce the burden in order to meet the Government target.

Finally, as part of the Government decision last March, it was also agreed that in relation to proposals for future regulations, all Departments should (a) assess the proportionality of the burden imposed to the risk foreseen (b) measure the administrative cost on business (c) examine the impact on small business and (d) consider what education and advice requirements are necessary to improve compliance. This decision will be further addressed through the Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) process. An independent review of the operation of RIA, being conducted on behalf of the Department of the Taoiseach is expected to be completed shortly.