Enterprise Minister Peter Burke has said he was “shocked” by the sheer number of regulators in Ireland, claiming there were not enough seats to accommodate them all at a recent government event.
Speaking to Gript outside Government Buildings ahead of this morning’s cabinet meeting, the Fine Gael Minister raised concerns about overregulation and its impact on Irish businesses.
“We have an enormous amount of regulation in this country,” he said.
“One thing which I was shocked by was when we came forward by our Cost of Doing Business advisory forum, we hadn’t enough seats, almost, for all the regulators we have in this country. And that’s one of the critical things.”
Burke said that while regulation was necessary, it had to be “proportionate” and not place undue burdens on sectors already under pressure.
“We need to do things simpler, lighter, faster,” he said.
“If you look at the drinks sector…alcohol consumption has reduced by over four and a half percent last year. It’s on a downward trajectory. And we have to protect our indigenous sector.”
He warned that further costs imposed by labelling requirements under the Public Health (Alcohol) Act could add to the difficulties faced by distillers and brewers.
“We know distillers now at this point in time, a lot of them have ceased or reduced production,” he said.
“I think we should move with Europe, do it together if a point in time in the future comes. But acting unilaterally on a sector that is vulnerable through tariffs is not a good idea.”
Burke said his priority was safeguarding employment.
“I look at the prism of protecting jobs,” he said.
“That’s where I come from as Enterprise Minister.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin was also asked by Gript about the proposed changes to alcohol labelling, saying that Ireland would not act without agreement at EU level.
“Anything we do, we do in consult with the European Union,” he said.
“Alcohol does cause cancer. That’s important, I think, to acknowledge.”
Martin said the broader legislation had largely already been put into effect.
“In terms of that legislation, I think about 28 of the 30 measures have now been implemented,” he said.
“So it’s been a very effective implementation of the broader act in respect of public health.”
The Taoiseach added that the Minister for Health would bring forward more details in due course.
In Ireland, mandatory health labels on alcohol products are due to be introduced from May 22, 2026 under the Public Health (Alcohol) Act. The labels are set to warn consumers about risks such as liver disease, cancer, and pregnancy complications, and include calorie and alcohol content.
However, speaking in the Dáil in May, Tánaiste Simon Harris said the timeline for implementation was “under consideration” due to fears over possible US tariffs on Irish alcohol exports.
Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has also said the policy would need to be “carefully examined again.”
Drinks industry bodies have warned that introducing mandatory health warnings ahead of other EU countries could put Irish producers at a competitive disadvantage.