Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 81: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department is assuming overall responsibility for the delivery of the commitments in the Programme for Government on the use of regulatory impact assessments in the development of policy and legislation across all Government Departments in view of the fact that the Better Regulation Unit in the Department of An Taoiseach is no longer in existence; if he regards RIAs as an essential tool in the achievement of better policy and legislative outcomes; the resources that are being devoted within his Department to delivering on the commitments on RIAs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23588/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) is a tool used by Departments to assess the costs, benefits and qualitative impacts of regulatory proposals. The use of this tool has been mandatory in relation to proposals for primary legislation as well as significant secondary and EU regulations since 2005, although, in general the practice to date has been that RIAs were only published once a Bill or Statutory Instrument was published.

The Better Regulation function has historically been shared between the Departments of the Taoiseach and Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. In this context, the Department of the Taoiseach previously offered advice and support to Departments undertaking Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIAs) including through the preparation and updating of guidelines on the use of RIA in an Irish regulatory context. In the context of the re-configuration of Departments following the appointment of this Government, it has been agreed that policy relating to "Better Regulation" would be dealt with by the Department of Communication, Energy & Natural Resources (economic sectoral regulation) and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation (interaction of business and citizens with Governmental organisation, reducing red tape etc). As regards residual functions relating to training and advice to Departments in their conduct of RIAs, my Department will coordinate with other Departments to ensure that appropriate supports remain in place.