Compliance Costs.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 July 2008

Tuesday, 1 July 2008

Questions (448)

Richard Bruton

Question:

516 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the dealings that he or agencies under the control of his Department have had with the business sector which incur regulatory costs or compliance costs on behalf of business; if he has identified the baseline cost profile for business associated with that activity; if he has set targets for the reduction of these different cost items; and the cost and the target reduction in each case. [25269/08]

Written answers

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern)

As the Deputy will appreciate, given the nature of my Department's functions, the extent of the business regulation activity under its aegis is relatively limited. Nevertheless, where some regulatory function is being provided for, every effort is made to keep any costs of compliance at a level which is the minimum proportionate to achieving the policy objective. I can also refer the Deputy to the Tánaiste's response to Parliamentary Question No. 178 of 18 June, 2008 which sets out the recent Government decision concerning administrative burdens on business, and the analysis which is to take place, to which my Department will be contributing.