I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 118 together.
The following table gives details of Bills published by my Department between 2011 and 2016, indicating whether or not a regulatory impact assessment (RIA) was undertaken in each case:
Name and Number of Bill
|
RIA completed Yes/No
|
Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011 (32 of 2011)
|
Yes
|
Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2011 (46 of 2011)
|
Yes
|
Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad] (63 of 2011)
|
Yes
|
Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 (74 of 2011)
|
No
|
Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 (79 of 2011)
|
No
|
Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2012 (7 of 2012)
|
No
|
Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012 (40 of 2012)
|
No
|
Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 (61 of 2012)
|
No
|
Residential Tenancies (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012 (69 of 2012)
|
Yes
|
Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012 (84 of 2012)
|
Yes
|
Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad] (1 of 2013)
|
No
|
Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2013 (14 of 2013)
|
No
|
Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Bill 2013 (37 of 2013)
|
Yes
|
Housing (Amendment) Bill 2013 (44 of 2013)
|
No
|
Electoral, Local Government and Planning and Development Bill 2013 (70 of 2013)
|
Yes
|
Local Government Bill 2013 (98 of 2013)
|
Yes
|
Water Services No. 2 Bill 2013 (123 of 2013)
|
No
|
European Parliament Elections (Amendment) 2013 Bill (124 of 2013)
|
Yes
|
Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013
|
No
|
Electoral (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 2014 (28 of 2014)
|
No
|
Electoral (Amendment) (No.4) Bill 2014 (67 of 2014)
|
Yes
|
Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 (later known as the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015)
|
No
|
Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 (Reform of Household Waste Collection Provisions)
|
Yes
|
Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014
|
No
|
Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014
|
Yes
|
Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015 (No. 2 of 2015)
|
Yes
|
Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015
|
Yes
|
Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill 2015 (51 of 2015) (formerly entitled Planning and Development (No 1) Bill
|
Yes
|
Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015 (87 of 2015)
|
Yes
|
Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2015 (109 of 2015)
|
No
|
Dublin Docklands Development Authority (Dissolution) Bill 2015
|
Yes
|
Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill 2015
|
Yes
|
Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2015
|
No
|
Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Age of Eligibility for Election to the Office of President) Bill 2015
|
No
|
Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016 (No. 2 of 2016)
|
No
|
Planning and Development (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 2016
|
Yes
|
Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2016 (59 of 2016)
|
No
|
Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill
|
Yes
|
Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016
|
Yes
|
Where a RIA is undertaken, it is usually done at an early stage in the policy development process to assist in deciding the best approach to take.
The Template for Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) provided by the Department of the Taoiseach is used by way of guidance for the majority of RIAs published by my Department. RIAs are also carried out in line with that Department’s RIA Guidelines - How to Conduct a Regulatory Impact Analysis.
These guidelines state that a RIA should provide sufficient evidence to respond to concerns and objections that can be anticipated in the context of the decision-making process and in terms of public reaction. Examining relevant impacts under a range of appropriate categories forms part of this process for each RIA undertaken by the Department.
Social and economic impacts are included for the majority of RIAs undertaken. A number of RIAs have also addressed environmental impacts. Where relevant, other impact categories as included in the RIA guidelines are also referenced, such as competitiveness, impacts on socially excluded and vulnerable groups, the rights of citizens, North-South and East-West relations and impacts in relation to any potential compliance burden.