As there is no single approved definition of a regulatory body in terms of public service regulators, it is quite difficult to reply categorically to this question. However, an acceptable definition of public service regulator might be that it has functions in at least two of the following three areas of activities: the formulation of goals, the making of rules, [and/or] the setting of standards; monitoring, gathering information, scrutiny, inspection, audit and evaluation; and enforcement, modifying behaviour, applying rewards and sanctions.
As a result, there is one body under the aegis of my Department that might be considered to fall within this definition of regulator, namely the Adoption Authority of Ireland. The Authority is an independent quasi- judicial statutory body appointed by Government to regulate adoption in Ireland. The total cost of running the Authority during 2012 is estimated at €2.265 million and there are currently 24.65 whole-time equivalents employed. Due to the nature of the work of the Authority, I have no plans to amalgamate any of its functions or roles with other regulators. That said, administrative efficiencies are always under consideration and the Authority already utilises shared service facilities in terms of its finance and ICT functions and I will continue to support the Authority in terms of maximising any other efficiencies that it identifies.
