Commenting on the DETI Minister’s announcement of a comprehensive review of business red tape, NI Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Ann McGregor said:

“Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce welcomes the Minister’s announcement of a comprehensive review of business red tape and looks forward to engaging with the department as part of the process.

Our recent Quarterly Economic Survey revealed that red tape is having some impact on 9 in every 10 businesses here. Businesses want to see meaningful deregulation: the volume of bureaucracy hampering firms is still far too high and the government must continue to work to reduce burdensome red tape, particularly those stemming from Brussels and the European Parliament, which act as a barrier to growth for many firms.

As part of this review, the NI Executive must influence the UK Government to ensure that exporters don’t see their products held up by red tape here in the UK – before they even get goods to market. Government must also work with other countries to reduce any unnecessary international regulations that prevent firms entering global markets. These include customs clearance, import regulations, tariffs and random and lengthy hold-ups securing export licences.”