Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 304: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has completed his list of information obligations which the 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 he will make a statement on the matter. [34585/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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In March of this year, the Government decided to reduce the administrative burden of domestic regulation on business by 25% by 2012. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is responsible for devising the approach and methodology to be used across Government, for co-ordinating this work across Government Departments and agencies and for reporting to Government on progress.

At present, my officials are engaged in the process of screening information obligations that come under the remit of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. When completed, an exercise in prioritising these information obligations will be undertaken with the assistance of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment by the end of 2008.

During 2009, measurements of these prioritised information obligations will be undertaken and when completed simplification plans will be prepared detailing those steps necessary to reduce burden.