Business Regulation Forum – Micheál Martin sets up High Level Dialogue with Business on Regulation and Administrative Burdens

Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment Micheál Martin today (Wednesday 2^nd November 2005) announced the establishment of the Business Regulation Forum (BRF), under the distinguished chairmanship of Dr. Donal De Buitléir of AIB Group. The other members drawn from the business sector are listed in the attached.

Announcing details of the new forum Minister Martin said: “Establishment of the BRF is a key element in implementing our commitment to better regulation and to address administrative burdens which can genuinely be identified as disproportionate. My intention is that the BRF will advise me and I, in turn, will advise the Government, on regulatory issues as they impact on business and competitiveness, in particular on issues and on problems arising from outdated, inefficient or disproportionate regulation.”

“The business expertise on the BRF will be complemented by regulatory and administrative expertise drawn from the public sector. From the Government side it is envisaged that representatives of the Departments of the Taoiseach, Finance and Enterprise, Trade and Employment will be permanent members of the BRF with other Departments and their agencies participating as necessary on an issue basis. It is also intended that the independent sectoral regulatory bodies would so participate on an issue basis, in a manner consistent with their statutory independent role. My Department and the State Enterprise agencies will support the work of the BRF on an ongoing basis.

“The BRF will work in parallel to the existing Better Regulation Group of Government officials and Regulators. The BRF will take a strategic overview of the application of “Better Regulation” principles to new regulation and examine specific existing regulations, on a problem-solving basis. Because the BRF should be a dynamic body which will identify, focus on and prioritise regulatory issues of concern I do not want to be prescriptive about its work. The adoption of a detailed work programme will be a matter for the BRF. The BRF will become operational immediately.

“I am very pleased that Dr. De Buitléir has agree to chair the Forum. His combination of business and public service backgrounds should give a unique perspective to help us achieve an optimal regulatory regime. And this will be complemented by the very considerable business and regulatory expertise provided by the other members of the Forum”, Minister Martin concluded.