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.”

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