Minister Martin encourages submissions to Business Regulation Forum

Tuesday 25^th April 2006

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Micheál Martin, T.D., established the Business Regulation Forum in in November 2005. The Forum was established to examine regulatory issues as they impact on business and competitiveness

The Forum is now inviting views, comments or submissions from individual consumers,

companies, organisations and interest groups concerning which regulations they feel could

be improved upon.. Comments and evidence on what areas of regulation impose the largest avoidable and unnecessary burden on business including the extent of regulation, the burden it imposes on business, and the effects of that burden, are being sought.

“The impact of regulation on business can be significant. Hundreds of regulations impact on all our business lives every day, from health and safety legislation to tax obligations”, Minister Martin said.

“Most of these are necessary to allow society to run smoothly and to sustain the high standards we now expect. However, it may be that some of them have evolved in such a way as to have become difficult to comply with or hard to understand, I would therefore encourage everyone including members of the public to become actively involved in the submission process”, the Minister added.

The Business Regulation forum aims to propose changes to ensure that existing or future regulations, which have an impact on business in Ireland, meet the six criteria set out in the White Paper “Better Regulation”. The White Paper criteria for good regulation are: necessity, effectiveness, proportionality, transparency, accountability, and consistency.

“The forum is not seeking to reduce regulation per se. It is very clear that regulations, for the most part, exist for good reasons. The benefits of regulation can include: protecting consumers, preventing the abuse of monopoly power; encouraging optimal resource allocation by improving the functioning of markets; and maintaining standards, such as Health and Safety. The Business Regulation Forum will examine if the same benefits could be achieved in a more efficient and effective manner”. Minister Martin said

The Forum is now seeking submissions and comments from individuals, groups and businesses concerning the cost of regulation for business in Ireland. All information regarding the forum and information regarding submissions can be viewed at www.businessregulation.ie .

The deadline for submissions will be Friday the 26th of May 2006.

The Forum membership is a mix of representatives from public and private sector organisations who have a particular interest in or knowledge of regulation issues.

ENDS / ETE1555

Notes to Editors:

The White Paper “Better Regulation” can be viewed in full at http://www.betterregulation.ie/.

The advertisement for submissions can be viewed at www.businessregulation.ie. A background explanatory note is also available there to help people in making their submissions. A complete list of the forum members is also included on the site.

For Further Information Contact:

Don O’ Connor

BRF Secretariat on +353 1 607 3280.

Ends