'Pseudo-religious' groups are able to hand out leaflets on drugs and industry-affiliated bodies are free to give talks about alcohol in the current unregulated system, warn drug workers.

Passenger car registrations in Europe slumped 23% during September after new emissions test rules took hold, reversing gains made in August when car makers were hurrying vehicles out the door to beat the deadline.

The vacancy rate at the Central Bank’s enforcement division has increased four-fold to 25% in the last six months.

The country’s communications watchdog has called for an increase in the level of financial penalties that can be imposed on companies for breaching industry regulations.

A consultation process on the regulation of the “cash for gold” trade in a bid to clamp down on thefts of jewellery and precious metals has been announced by Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald.

Excess regulation is hampering credit unions’ ability to provide basic services such as debit cards to their members despite an EU directive aimed at ensuring those services are available to citizens in every country.

The Central Bank has appointed a number of major accountancy firms to help assist it with its increased regulation of the credit union sector.

A conference on the legalisation and regulation of drugs in Ireland will take place in DCU today.