I propose to take Questions Nos. 357 and 358 together.
The Department has not conducted a regulatory impact analysis since June 2008. There has only been one bill produced by the Department during the period. Given the time constraints involved, the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008, which implemented PRSI and other changes to social welfare legislation arising from the Budget, was not subject to a regulatory impact analysis. However, the Department undertakes significant ex-ante analysis of these measures.
In relation to secondary legislation, the RIA guidelines state that only significant statutory instruments are subject to RIA. In this regard, given that these are largely technical in nature, the Department has not conducted a regulatory impact analysis on a statutory instrument over the period.