asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is conducting an audit of paperwork requirements imposed by his Department, or by agencies under his aegis, on business; if so, when the audit commenced; the named officer, if any, in charge of the audit; if any report thereon has yet been presented to the Minister for Industry and Commerce; if so, the contents thereof; if any practices or regulations have yet been altered as a result of the audit; if so, the details thereof; if he has prepared any report on the compliance costs to industry of legislation being prepared by his Department; the way in which these reports compare in content, scope or purpose with reports on this subject already required by decisions of the previous Government; and if he will outline the subjects being covered by the audit now being conducted in his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Paperwork Requirements Imposed on Business.
Arising from a Government decision on proposals from the Minister for Industry and Commerce aimed at reducing the legislative and administrative burden on business generally, my Department has recently initiated a programme of review of its administrative and legislative requirements in so far as business and industry are concerned. The review will cover all aspects of the requirements imposed on business by the Department in the administration of the social welfare services. An officer of assistant principal rank has been appointed to undertake the review, details of which will be presented to the Minister for Industry and Commerce in due course for assessment by the Industrial Cost Monitoring Group.
In preparing proposals for new legislation account is taken of the possible impact of such proposals on business and the views of the Industrial Cost Monitoring Group on such proposals would be sought where appropriate.
Exactly when did the audit commence? What is the name of the officer as sought and when is it expected that the first report will be presented? What subjects will be dealt with first in the course of this audit? Has the Minister given any directions in regard to those matters which will be considered to be most burdensome on business at the moment?
It is hardly normal to give the name of a civil servant, but Declan Breen, Assistant Principal Officer in the Planning Unit has been nominated for the position.
He has been nominated?
He is doing the job. What is wrong with the Deputy? Does he want me to get the man here? Does he not believe he exists? What sort of ridiculous question is it?
The Minister has already had four days' notice of this question.
I have told the Deputy the name of the person. What more does he want?
The Minister is not on top of his brief. He is waffling now.
There is nothing in the question about when the audit began, but it began in April 1988.
When does the Minister expect the first report to be presented and what is it going to deal with?
Is the Deputy serious? Perhaps I will read the answer for him again.
I heard it.
I do not mind the Deputy killing time but he is just destroying other people's opportunity to ask questions. Following is the reply:
Arising from a Government decision on proposals from the Minister for Industry and Commerce aimed at reducing the legislation and administration burden on business generally, my Department has recently initiated a programme of review of its administrative and legislative requirements in so far as business and industry are concerned. There is a very wide range of business requirements in my Department and the review will cover all aspects of the requirements imposed on business by the Department in the administration of the social welfare services.
The Minister has read all that stuff into the record already.
Can I ask just one supplementary?
I am calling Question No. 12.