Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) – Overview and Practical Experience of Conducting an Assessment

The 20th anniversary of the formal advent of the Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) process in Ireland took place on June 21st 2025.

According to the OECD, ‘Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) is a systemic approach to critically assess the positive and negative effects of proposed and existing regulations and non-regulatory alternatives. It encompasses a range of methods and is an important element of an evidence-based approach to policy making.

This half day online seminar will give attendees the opportunity to learn about the Regulatory Impact Assessment process at a basic level. RIAs were first introduced in 2005. Since then, Government Departments and Offices have been required to conduct RIAs on proposals for primary legislation that involve changes to the regulatory framework.

During the seminar, we will hear from government representatives who will discuss their respective RIA’s and outline their practical experience of conducting such an assessment.

This PAI seminar will focus on the key stages of the RIA process; highlighting the requirements to assess alternative solutions, to measure the costs and benefits of different options, and to undertake consultation with interested parties before recommending a “best option”.

The seminar will hear government representatives speak about their practical experience of doing RIAs in recent times. RIAs are at their best where they provide a sound basis for the laws and regulations that are needed to protect citizens’ rights, promote a safer society and ensure more confidence in goods and services. Those responsible for RIAs in their everyday work will find this seminar of particular benefit.

Who Should Attend?

Those responsible for RIAs in their everyday work will find this seminar of particular benefit and it will also provide attendees who a good foundational knowledge of what a RIA is and the key stages of the RIA process.