Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)

This amendment arises from last week's discussions on the need to include a reference to trade unions in section 15, which requires ComReg to set out its public consultation procedures. While it was never the intention, nor was it the effect of the section as drafted, that anyone, including staff representative bodies, would be excluded from any public consultation, we explored this issue with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. An amendment has been drafted to give effect to the Senators' proposal. Section 15(2) requires that ComReg's procedures will afford interested parties the opportunity to make representations on the matter that is the subject of the consultation. The proposed amendment includes organisations representative of employees of postal service providers among those listed as examples of interested persons for this purpose.