A new Integrated Licensing Application Portal for the retail sector is to be operational by the end of 2013 and rolled out to other sectors of the economy thereafter.
Speaking at the first meeting of the Steering Group of licensing authorities, Minister for Small Business, John Perry TD said this portal will provide significant savings in terms of time and costs for businesses and entrepreneurs across Ireland through the simplification of the process for applying for multiple licences.
“Streamlining licence application into a single web based application portal, whereby retailers can register once and apply for up to 25 separate licences, is a positive first step and a major reform of Government licensing process for businesses.”
The Disruptive Reform was adopted following a Forfás review in 2012 of 159 licenses for key sectors of business across the economy. The report concluded that the burden was unnecessarily high and a rationalisation was feasible to help reduce the licensing processes for business by up to one third.
The members of the Steering Group, which will meet throughout 2013, include the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Health and Children, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the Courts Service of Ireland, the Health Service Executive, the Revenue Commissioners, the European Recycling Platform, the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, the Health & Safety Authority, the County & City Managers Association / Local Authority (CCMA), the Irish Film Classification Office (IFCO), Phonographic Performance Ireland (PPI), WEEE Ireland, Inland Fisheries Ireland, Irish Music Rights Organisation Ltd (IMRO), An Post, The National Lottery, and Forfás.