Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 600: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the dealings that he or agencies under the control of his Department have had with the business sector which incur regulatory costs or compliance costs on behalf of business; if he has identified the baseline cost profile for business associated with that activity; if he has set targets for the reduction of these different cost items; and the cost and the target reduction in each case. [25265/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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In March last the Government decided that the administrative burden of regulations and business should be cut by 25%. The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, is charged with coordinating and monitoring progress by each Department.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is currently finalising the approach and methodology to implement the Government decision. In basic terms, all Departments will be required to identify the "Information Obligations" which their regulations impose on business and to prioritise and measure the most costly requirements. After the measurement of the priority areas, Departments will review the situation to see how the 25% reduction can best be achieved. In that context, my Department, along with other Departments, will begin the process by drawing up a list of relevant legislation operating under its aegis, which imposes a burden on the business sector.