Mr. Alex Chisholm:

It is absolutely transparent and is in line with the CEN standard. I apologise for using jargon. The CEN standard is the standard set at European Union level. An independent research organisation is required to undertake the monitoring. That is done to a very high standard by a suitably qualified independent research organisation which is chosen following a competitive tender and is subject to further independent audit with regard to the way it goes about its work. To the extent that we can - that is, to the extent that it is compatible with the integrity and independence of the research - we do share the results with An Post.

The Deputy also asked about the price application and its status. As mentioned earlier, we had an application at the end of last year. Some information which was missing took a while to collect from An Post. Once we had it all together we made an assessment of it and when we shared that assessment with An Post it said it would amend its price application. That happened last month. Having regard to all of the detailed assessment we have done, we are in the late stages of finalising that amended price application with An Post. When we have it we will publish it and consult publicly during the next few weeks. We hope to have a response to that price application in the first quarter of next year.

With regard to the mandate for ComReg, that is, as the Deputy rightly said, a matter for the Minister and the legislation passed last year. I take issue with Deputy Keaveney's contention that we are hiding behind our mandate. We are certainly not hiding behind it. We are working strenuously to fulfil it.