Jimmy Deenihan
Ceist:26 Mr. Deenihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her plans for a review of regulatory standards in light of the OECD report in 2001, and specifically the pharmacy sector. [9346/02]
Written Answers. - Regulatory Standards.
Arising from the OECD report on regulatory reform in Ireland published last spring the Government has set up structures to implement its recommendations. The report has implications for a number of Departments including my own.
These structures include establishment of a high level group on regulation under the chairmanship of the Department of the Taoiseach to oversee implementation of Ireland's response to the OECD report; preparation of a major national policy statement on regulatory reform; development of a new mechanism, regulatory impact assessment, by which Departments and public bodies will be required to analyse and measure the impacts on society of any regulations being proposed; requesting the Competition Authority to initiate a comprehensive study of the professional services sector; requesting the Commission on Liquor Licensing to produce further interim reports; and acceleration of a review of the Health (Community Pharmacy Contractor Agreement) Regulations governing the award of general medical service contracts to pharmacies.
My Department is represented on the high level group in addition to representation from the Competition Authority and the Director of Consumer Affairs and the group has been meeting regularly since the publication of the OECD report. It has overseen the recent publication of a consultation document "Towards Better Regulation". The Competition Authority is currently in the course of a study of the professions. My Department is also represented on the Commission on Liquor Licensing and the review group to examine the regulations governing pharmacy. As regards regulatory standards in the pharmacy sector, overall responsibility in this area rests with the Minister for Health and Children.