Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

81. To ask the Taoiseach for an update on his Department's plans to coordinate a range of actions aimed at regulatory reform. [67610/25]

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Regulation – and the extent of any regulatory or administrative burden – has recently become a greater focus at EU level and nationally as a means to further enhance competitiveness.

At an EU level, both simplification and implementation are important Commission priorities. The Commission is striving to simplify and lighten the administrative burden of EU regulations to ensure they are proportionate, stable, coherent, and technology neutral.

Likewise, our national regulatory framework is a central focus for Government as we strive to support competitiveness at a time of international economic uncertainty.

In line with the Programme for Government, we published an Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity on the 10th of September this year.

The Action Plan includes actions across Government to ensure development of a more effective regulatory system which will support economic growth.

These actions reflect priority areas where targeted public policy intervention can have the greatest impact. These include:

•a red tape challenge to reduce regulation for SMEs;

•application of the SME test by Government Departments to all measures, in particular to policy initiatives where it is proposed to increase costs on small business;

•expediting the Environment Miscellaneous Provisions Bill;

•commencing reforms under the Planning and Development Act 2024 to enhance delivery of infrastructure; and

•implementing the outstanding recommendations from the Review of the Administration of Civil Justice: Review Group Report.

The actions are framed to align with national strategic objectives and ensure that Ireland’s regulatory system is equipped to deliver good long-term economic and social outcomes.

There is already much activity underway to reduce the regulatory burden across Government.

For example, the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment is undertaking a programme of work with his agencies to simplify and streamline processes and reduce duplication to eliminate unnecessary administrative burdens on businesses.

We have established a Cost of Business Advisory Forum where business owners and representative bodies can speak directly to decision-makers about the real-world impact of regulations, fees, and operational challenges. The work of the Forum is underway.

Increased regulatory burden has also been identified as a barrier to infrastructure development and delivery. Minister Chambers, supported by the work of the Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce, is this week publishing a Plan which will include extensive regulatory reforms aimed at accelerating delivery of critical infrastructure.

Minister McEntee, in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, together with relevant Departments, has been engaging with the simplification Omnibus packages put forward by the Commission on a range of policy areas, most recently the Commission’s digital simplification Omnibus package published last week.

As outlined in the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity, my Department will play a coordinating role across these different regulatory reform initiatives, including the establishment of a central Economic Regulators Forum.

In taking forward this work, my Department will work with the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and other Departments to identify further areas of focus for regulatory reform in the time ahead.