Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 422: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation his Department's progress with regard to reaching the target of reducing administrative burdens on business by 25% by 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35020/10]

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 423: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the progress made on the implementation of the 2007 report of the business regulation forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35021/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 422 and 423 together.

International benchmarking statistics reveal that Ireland imposes a relatively low burden of regulation on business. The Forfás Annual Competitiveness Report 2010 states that Ireland's regulatory environment is one of the least restrictive in the OECD in relation to product market regulation, the time taken to comply with tax payments is one of the lowest in the OECD across all categories and Ireland's employment framework is less rigid than the OECD average. The Business Regulation Forum's 2007 recommendation is being implemented. The Government's project to measure and reduce administrative burdens by 25% by 2012 goes beyond that Group's recommendation in that it extends to all areas of regulation that affect business in Ireland.

The work to reduce red tape in Ireland is being progressed on two fronts. The High Level Group on Business Regulation works to fast-track simplifications to specific red tape issues identified by business. The Group has processed thirty specific red tape issues brought to its attention by business and continues to drive progress on a further thirty-eight items. To date total annual business savings of over €20m have been achieved by the Group.

In addition, an Inter-Departmental Group of officials from all Departments, having regulation affecting business, coordinates the measurement and 25% reduction of administrative burdens in a systematic manner, based on the internationally recognised Standard Cost Model. The measurement of administrative burdens using the Standard Cost Model is an exercise that was called for by business, as a baseline for the 25% administrative burden reduction programme. While the various measurement activities continue, all Departments and Agencies are continuously striving to streamline their operations in such a way as to improve the service they provide.