Reducing regulatory burdens on business
In April 2006, the Department of the Taoiseach commissioned the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) to conduct a comprehensive study of business attitudes to, and experience of, regulation.
The Survey was designed to provide specific information as to the extent of the regulatory burden on business and where specific regulatory problems lie. However, it focussed not only on "red tape" but also on the impacts of regulation on business more broadly, such as the extent to which it facilitates, or is a barrier to, economic growth and the competitiveness of Irish business. Over 830 companies participated in the survey which involved a structured questionnaire as well as two phases of qualitative interviews with a smaller number of firms.
The results of the Survey were encouraging and endorsed the approach that the Government has taken to better regulation through its White Paper, Regulating Better. The Survey indicated that most firms consider that the overall amount of regulation is ‘about right’ (55 per cent of firms). Taxation and health and safety regulations were identified by the largest number of firms as being of most significance to them. However, firms had relatively positive views of regulation in these areas, with more firms agreeing than disagreeing that the regulations are easy to understand, achieve their objectives and are appropriately enforced.
The Secretary General of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment chairs the High Level Group on Business Regulation which was established in 2007 to identify opportunities for reducing administrative burdens in the five key areas identified by business as being most burdensome ie. Taxation, Health and Safety, Environmental Law, Statistics and Company and Employment Law. The High Level Group published their first report in 2008.
In addition, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is also leading the Cross-Departmental effort to achieve the Government target of reducing administrative burdens on business by 25% by 2012.
Attached below is Issue No. 49 of the Link Newsletter which contains an article by Dr Dorothy Watson of the ESRI on the Business Regulation Survey. This article can be found on pages 4 and 5 of the Newsletter.
To read a report of the results of the Business Regulation Survey, please access the link below:
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