Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 16: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has completed her list of information obligations which their regulations impose on businesses; if so, the obligations involved; if not, when such a list will be finalised; if the most burdensome obligations, the regulations that they impose and the costs on businesses have been identified; if these costs, as they apply to businesses, have been measured; or if this aspect of the project has not been completed, the date by which this will be done; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34591/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Lists of information obligations have been compiled in the three main areas of regulation that fall within the remit of my Department: Company Law, Employment Law, and Health & Safety Law. I have arranged to send the lists directly to the Deputy.

Prioritisation of the information obligations in these three areas is currently underway, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2008. The prioritised information obligations will then be measured. When measurement has been completed, simplification plans will be prepared detailing how a reduction in the burden on business can be achieved.

As the Deputy is aware my Department is also coordinating the overall process to measure and reduce burdens across Government. I envisage that the identification, prioritisation and measurement process should be completed by all Departments by the end of 2009. On completion of the measurement exercise simplification plans will be prepared detailing how the 25% target will be met by the end of 2012.