Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am sorry for coming in late. I was intrigued by one of the figures mentioned. Did I hear the commissioner correctly? Did he say ComReg has over several years paid over €1 billion to the Department? Can the commissioners tell me about that? Was this the product of competitions or is this a surplus generated on a reasonably predictable annual basis? How does it work out from year to year? Does it come in enormous lumps? Has ComReg got to the point where this income stream is now factored into the Department's thinking? Does the Department apply it to current or capital projects?