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businessregulation.ie: one place for information on regulation from over 30 Government bodies – Minister Bruton

businessregulation.ie: one place for information on regulation from over 30

Government bodies – Minister Bruton

New website launched as part of Government drive to reduce burden of red

tape on business

18 June 2012

The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton TD today

(Monday) launched businessregulation.ie, a new website aimed at reducing

the burden of red tape on business by bringing together in one place clear

information on regulations imposed by over 30 Government bodies and how to

comply with them.

The website was developed to address a clear need identified by business

for a single source of information on regulatory requirements. By providing

users with over 150 separate links to information, guidance and contact

details, the portal reduces the need to trawl through multiple pages on

different websites in search of the right information.

Today’s launch represents delivery ahead of schedule of a key Q3 commitment

in Action Plan for Jobs 2012, and forms part of a range of measures aimed

at reducing the burden of red tape on business, including:

· Reforming and consolidating the five existing employment rights

bodies into two streamlined bodies

· Delivering a 25% reduction in administrative burdens imposed on

business

· Enabling online compliance with regulations where possible

Launching the new website today, Minister Bruton said:

“A key part of our plan for jobs and growth is reducing costs, particularly

by reducing where possible the burden that Government regulations impose on

business. One problem identified by business was the lack of one single

online source of information on regulations and how to comply with them,

and so today we have launched businessregulation.ie so that businesses no

longer have to search multiple Government websites to find out their

obligations.

“With today’s launch of businessregulation.ie, I am convinced that small

businesses in particular will find compliance easier. Through the Action

Plan for Jobs, we in Government will continue implementing changes to cut

red tape, reduce costs, make it easier to start-up and expand a business

and create the jobs we need”.

The website contains three principal sections:

1. For start-up businesses the portal contains links to information on

registering a company or business name, setting up for tax purposes and

requirements when employing staff. This section also provides a table

setting out the generic regulatory requirements for establishing a business

and details of the online tools available.

2. Under ‘Key Regulations for all Businesses’ the portal provides links on

financial and structural regulation, employer and Health & Safety

requirements and location-based regulation such as waste or planning. The

portal also informs businesses about CSO and Revenue business surveys, data

protection requirements and consumer-related information. Where appropriate

the portal points to specific tools such as Revenue’s Online Service ROS

and the Health and Safety Authority’s BeSMART, which helps businesses to

quickly and easily develop their own risk assessment and safety statement.

3. A range of sector-specific information, which will be expanded as

necessary in response to business needs. This section currently focuses on

agriculture, forestry, food, fisheries, construction, retail, e-selling,

transport, hospitality, security, pharmacy and manufacturing.

Businessregulation.ie was developed by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise

and Innovation in close cooperation with business and inspection and

enforcement agencies (though the Risk Based Enforcement Group). Focus

groups with business were an integral element of the portal’s development;

businessregulation.ie’s content and its clear layout are the result of this

extensive engagement with regulatory agencies and business throughout the

process, and the reaction of businesspeople who have tested the site has

been very positive.

Business members of the High Level Group on Business Regulation, chaired by

Minister for Small Business John Perry TD, also provided feedback on the

portal from an early stage.

Minister Perry said: “It was vital to have the voice of business

participating in the development of this portal from the beginning so that

it addresses the real needs of the small business community.

Businessregulation.ie is an excellent resource for SMEs; I would urge

businesses to make full use of it.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors

Action Plan for Jobs 2012

Action 1.51: Launch a single web portal for business compliance information

High Level Group on Business Regulation

The High Level Group on Business Regulation brings together senior

officials from relevant Government Departments, representatives from local

authorities, business and trade unions to work together to reduce

administrative burdens in the Irish economy. The Group acts as a forum for

Government to connect directly with business and is a source of ideas for

cutting red tape.

Risk-Based Enforcement Group

The Risk-Based Enforcement Group brings together inspection and enforcement

agencies to share best practice and establish a critical path of steps

towards better risk-based enforcement.

Structure and Content of businessregulation.ie

The portal is divided into three main sections:

Start-ups

· Setting up and registering your company

· Setting up as self-employed or using business name

· Setting up for tax

· Employer set up requirements

· Find your local offices that can help

· Online services for start-ups

Key Regulations for all Businesses

· Financial and Structural

· Employer and Health & Safety

· Location Based

· Other Key Areas

· Useful Tools and Guidance

Sector-specific Regulation

· Agriculture and Forestry

· Food

· Fisheries

· Construction

· Retail

· e-Selling

· Transport

· Hospitality

· Security

· Pharmacy

· Manufacturing

· Other

The portal links to the following Agency, Departmental and other websites:

· Bord Bia

· Bord Iascaigh Mhara

· Broadcasting Authority of Ireland

· Central Bank of Ireland

· Central Statistics Office

· Citizens Information

· Companies Registration Office

· Data Protection Commissioner

· Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

· Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

· Department of Finance

· Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

· Department of Social Protection

· Environmental Protection Agency

· Enterprise Ireland

· Fáilte Ireland

· Food Safety Authority of Ireland

· Gettingbusinessonline.ie

· Health and Safety Authority

· Health Services Executive

· Inland Fisheries Ireland

· Irish Fire Services

· Labour Court

· Labour Relations Commission

· Local Authorities

· National Consumer Agency

· National Employment Rights Authority

· National Hygiene Partnership

· National Milk Agency

· National Procurement Service

· National Standards Authority of Ireland

· National Transport Authority

· Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement

· Office of Tobacco Control

· Patents Office

· Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland

· Private Security Authority

· Property Services Regulatory Authority

· Revenue

· Road Safety Authority

· Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority

The portal homepage also offers lists of

· bodies providing support for business

· contact details for the main Departments and Agencies

· news and updates provided by Agencies

For further information please contact Patrick Cluskey, Adviser to Minister

Bruton, Patrick.Cluskey@djei.ie, 01-6312217