Mr. Ronan Lupton:

There is, but we have just decided on a structure. I will take powers and resources, which will address Deputy Stanley and Senator O'Reilly's questions in some part, Mr. Barrins will take the pricing issue raised by both members, Mr. O'Dwyer will address the functional separation, that is, the splitting of Eir's wholesale and retail markets, and Mr. O'Brien will address investments. A question was also asked about civil sanctions, which I will take.

The issue of powers and resources is an interesting one. ComReg desperately needs resources in any event - legal resources, economists and spectrum experts. Per what we have already said, the multitude of issues and technological developments that are laid firmly at ComReg's doorstep to regulate and supervise is extraordinary. Some 120 staff split between the seven or eight departments within ComReg is not enough. Expert staff are required.

I must clarify a point in my evidence. The State received a surplus of €136 million. That money was collected from us in the industry and returned to the Department of Finance to do with it what it willed. The cost of running ComReg was €32 million, an increase year on year, in the last accounts. Effectively, we are paying money to the Exchequer. As such, taking some of the money from that pot to pay for the staff would not be a strain on the Exchequer. That would be my submission.