Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 340: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the dealings that she or agencies under the control of her Department have had with the business sector which incur regulatory costs or compliance costs on behalf of business; if she has identified the baseline cost profile for business associated with that activity; if she has set targets for the reduction of these different cost items; and the cost and the target reduction in each case. [25266/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I take it that the Deputy is referring to the administrative costs on business associated with complying with regulatory requirements.

In March 2008, the Government decided to reduce the administrative burden of domestic regulation on business by 25% by 2012. Administrative burdens include the cost of e.g. form filling, returns, applications, retaining records etc as required on foot of regulations.

My Department is responsible for devising the approach and methodology to be used across Government, for coordinating the work across Government Departments and Agencies and for reporting to Government on progress.

Initially, all Government 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. At that point the most appropriate approach to achieving the overall 25% target will be re-examined.

In the case of my own Department, the intention is to focus initially on three major areas of regulation i.e. Company Law, Health and Safety legislation and Employment legislation.