Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 January 2024
245. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on the application of the SME test since its introduction; if he feels it is being applied in a manner which delivers for SMEs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2813/24]
View answerThe SME Test is a regulatory impact assessment tool that encourages policymakers across Government to consider the impact new legislation or regulations may have on SMEs. The Test was designed by my Department to ease the regulatory burden on SMEs, and should be applied by all Departments to new relevant legislation.
Implementation of the Test is a commitment in the Programme for Government and is one of the reforms under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). As part of the NRRP reform, a series of milestones were agreed between the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the European Commission, including the establishment of a reporting framework across Government Departments to measure uptake of the Test. In Q1 2022 my Department established a cross-Government network to identify and ensure that the SME Test is applied to all relevant upcoming legislation.
The Test sets out the following four-steps for policymakers to consider when drafting legislation as part of the Regulatory Impact Assessment: identification of affected businesses; consultation; assessment of impacts; and consideration of mitigating measures.
Since its launch in 2021, officials in my Department have been monitoring, on a quarterly bases, the application of the SME Test and to date 11 Departments applied the test to 21 pieces of legislation.
This Department is committed to ensuring the SME Test is being applied in a manner which delivers for SMEs and will be increasing engagement with the cross-government network in 2024.
