Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 488: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the occasions on which his Department has carried out a screening regulatory impact analysis on Statutory Instruments, Bills and EU Directives in the years 2006, 2007 and to date in 2008; the occasions on which they have subsequently decided not to carry out a full regulatory impact analysis; the reason this decision was made in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22685/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Since the introduction in June 2005 of Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA), my Department has carried out two RIA screenings on:

the British-Irish Agreement (Amendment) Act 2006, which related to the mandate and functions of the Special EU Programmes Body, an all-island body established under the Good Friday Agreement; and

the Passports Act 2008, which sets out a specific legislative basis for the regulation and issuing of passports.

As the Deputy will be aware, the decision to conduct a full RIA is taken if the initial screening has highlighted possible 'significant impacts' defined as those which have substantial and observable effects either on the economy, on a sector of society or on the environment.

In these cases, the RIA screening concluded that, as the legislation would not have a 'significant impact' in these areas, a full RIA was not required.