Vol. 515 No. 4
3 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the number of copies distributed by his Department of the document, Reducing Red Tape - An Action Programme of Regulatory Reform in Ireland, which was issued by his Department in 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5815/00]
My Department has distributed approximately 450 copies of Reducing Red Tape – An Action Programme of Regulatory Reform in Ireland.
Regulatory reform is an important element of the Strategic Management Initiative and is a central theme of Delivering Better Government. As part of the Strategic Management Initiative, a working group on regulatory reform was established in September 1996 and was chaired by the Secretary General of the then Department of Enterprise and Employment.
The recommendations of the working group were submitted to and accepted by Government in June 1999. Based on those recommendations the action programme Reducing Red Tape – An Action Programme of Regulatory Reform in Ireland was published in July 1999.
I launched the programme in Dublin Castle on 22 July 1999 as part of the latest phase of the Strategic Management Initiative and the Deputy was present on that occasion. The document Reducing Red Tape – An Action Programme of Regulatory Reform in Ireland was included in the information pack which was given out that day to all in attendance. The invitation list included Ministers and Ministers of State, Secretaries General, the Regulatory Reform Working Group and other SMI working groups, personnel officers, customer service officers and SMI facilitators. The document was also sent to the senior managers in each Government Department and office who have responsibility for regulatory reform.
Implementation of the action programme is under way and I am glad to inform the Deputy that the OECD has agreed to include Ireland in its Programme of Country Reviews of Regulatory Reform for 2000. This review will provide the basis for further developing and deepening the regulatory reform process in this country.
Would the Taoiseach agree that the distribution list for the document is confined to the producers of regulations and not the consumers?
That is the distribution list. The proposals concerned the consolidation, revision and repeal of regulations. Seven action points were set out and each Department and office was to consult with all customers and other interested parties to prioritise regulatory reform. Each Department and office was also to list its regulations to identify the scope for reform. In that process it was their obligation to talk to customers and other agencies, not only about current legislation but about new legislation. While only 450 copies of the document were circulated, it was to be followed up everywhere it had a relevant use. I assume that is what happening.
Have any regulations been reformed as a result of this initiative?
In new legislation, directives or amendments of regulations the document is given to the Minister and his officials to prevent additional burdens being placed on small businesses or other bodies. That has an effect because people are forced to look at that additional burden. Examination of existing legislation is ongoing and will take some time. The Secretaries General are trying to look at all the regulations to identify the scope for reform but that is an enormous job. In time many regulations could be dropped. No Act has been dropped yet.
That is no surprise.
Legislation will be dropped at some stage in the process. I have seen some of the drafts and the compliance requested of people is unnecessary.
Would it be unfair to paraphrase the Taoiseach by saying that no existing red tape has been cut but there is an assurance that there will be gold ribbing on all new red tape?
In fairness, those involved have not finished their work. They have outlined the principles which will underpin regulatory reform. They say that in all decisions we should improve the quality rather than the quantity of regulations, which is welcome, they are eliminating unnecessary or inefficient regulations, including legislation, and simplifying necessary regulation and related procedures as far as possible. They are doing that to lower the cost of regulatory compliance and to make regulations more accessible to the public while, in each case, protecting the public interest.
They are succeeding with new legislation but for old legislation this is an enormous task. They are trying to revisit all existing regulations, list the areas where there is red tape and then reforming those areas. This had been under way for three and a half years and will take some time yet. They have opened their processes up to the OECD. Included in their list is what we do in this House every day without looking at the complete picture – we place a huge administrative burden on people year after year.
