The Taoiseach Micheál Martin and the Enterprise Minister Peter Burke have written to other Cabinet members asking them to cut red tape for business and respond with a list of actions by the end of September.
The development follows a report by economist Alan Barrett, who is chairman of the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council, which highlighted the regulatory burden on firms as an issue for Ireland.
The letter says the country is below average due to excessive and overly complex regulations for businesses.
Ministers are asked by the Taoiseach and Minister Burke to identify how their departments or agencies under their remit can reduce red tape.
They have called for increased digitalisation, streamlining and simplification.
They have also urged Cabinet members to remove duplication.
Ministers are also being asked if there are less burdensome or better alternatives for achieving the their aims.
Sectors such as retail and childcare are highlighted as suffering from high administrative burdens due to requirements for licences, permits and certificates.
The letter follows a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development which shows Ireland ranking below the mean of other member countries in terms of ease of doing business.
