Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 218: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation if he will update Dáil Éireann on the Government's commitment to reduce red tape by 25% by 2012; to report on the summer workshops that focused on reductions of red tape arising from company law, employment law and health and safety law; to outline any relevant material reductions in red tape; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35501/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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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 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.

To progress the implementation of the Government's target to reduce the burden of red tape on business by 25% by 2012, earlier this year my colleague, Minister for State, Billy Kelleher launched two workshops in the area of Company Law and Employment Law to hear directly from business their ideas to reduce the administrative burden. These workshops, which were held in May and June, were attended by representatives from business, the professions and local enterprise boards. The issues raised included matters relating to returns to the Companies Registration Office, keeping of accounts, the Organisation of Working Time Act and various aspects of the written statement of Terms of Employment.

In line with the overall approach to administrative burden reduction adopted by Government, the aim of the workshops was to identify the best ideas for streamlining the paperwork and information flow that arises from regulation, but without undermining any of the protections afforded by the legislation. The suggestions made at these workshops are being considered in the context of developing simplification plans for administrative burden reduction in these areas. The simplification plans will be considered by the High Level Group on Business Regulation later this year. It is intended to hold a workshop focusing on Health and Safety Legislation in the coming weeks.