Emer Currie
Ceist:323. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department has conducted an assessment of the costs facing Irish SMEs in complying with digital regulation. [51839/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 7 July 2026
Ceisteanna (323)
Freagraí scríofa
This Government strongly supports regulation that is clear, proportionate, evidence-based and achieves its policy objectives while minimising unnecessary compliance costs for businesses, particularly SMEs.
In the context of EU legislation, including digital regulation, Ireland actively engages in negotiations to promote a risk-based and proportionate approach, taking account of the particular circumstances of SMEs and seeking to minimise unnecessary administrative and compliance burdens. The Government has also advocated at EU level for measures to simplify the digital regulatory landscape and improve coherence across EU digital legislation.
The range and application of digital regulation that affects SMEs will vary depending the nature of their business and other factors. As such, it is important that assessments on the impact of regulation are made in the context of the specific regulation in question.
At national level, the impact of proposed legislative and policy measures on SMEs is assessed through mechanisms including Regulatory Impact Analysis and the SME Test.
The SME Test is designed to ensure that policymakers consider the potential impacts of measures on SMEs at an early stage and identify opportunities to mitigate disproportionate costs through simplification, exemptions or other appropriate measures where possible.
While regulation can create compliance obligations, it can also provide significant benefits for SMEs by fostering trust, increasing legal certainty and ensuring a level playing field across the Single Market. For example, digital legislation such as the Digital Markets Act seeks to address unfair practices by large online gatekeepers, while the AI Act establishes harmonised rules for the development and deployment of artificial intelligence across the European Union. Such measures can help create a more predictable and competitive business environment for SMEs while providing appropriate safeguards for consumers and businesses alike.
More broadly, the Government's work on competitiveness and productivity includes a focus on reducing regulatory burdens and controlling costs for business while maintaining high standards of consumer protection, innovation and fair competition.