Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 61: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation when the business inspection and licensing authority will be set up as per the programme for Government; the persons who will be responsible for overseeing this authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5871/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I intend to have proposals for the establishment of BILA developed by the end of May. While the concept of a single licensing and inspection authority spans the remit of a number of Government Departments, I intend to initiate arrangements within my Department in the first instance and to build from there. I am currently appraising the core objectives, activities and structures of the Department and its Offices and Agencies with a view to putting in place a new strategy for the Department. It is my intention that structures would reflect this new strategy.

Businesses interact with regulatory authorities in several ways including requests for information, inspections, investigations and various forms of licensing. In the area of business regulation, one of the key aims of Government is to make compliance easier, simpler and less costly. Streamlining inspection and licensing services is one potential strand in an overall strategy to achieve this aim. The proposal for a business inspection and licensing authority provides a vehicle for imaginative and more effective resource sharing in this area. I believe that there are considerable gains to be made on the business licensing issue.

The ideal for small and large enterprises alike would be a common portal for licences and permits of various kinds. We are a long way from that ideal, not least because of the structures and the proliferation of agencies that have been put in place, particularly over the past decade. However, there may be practical and tangible things that can be done in the meantime and I will be looking at these. If necessary, I will establish new arrangements on an interim basis in order to deliver benefits as soon as possible to businesses that are struggling to stay afloat, let alone cope with undue administrative burdens.