Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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We will revert to Ms Tunney to deal with the many questions as asked. Before giving Ms Tunney the floor, in the context of my own support for a more robust framework, allegations were made earlier with particular reference to named companies. One of those was the ESB, as Deputy Brady pointed out. This committee has correspondence from the ESB. My understanding, by way of follow up, is that the ESB no longer buys coal from any mine in Cerrejón. That might be acknowledged, if it is the case. If not, we have something of a conflict, because we have correspondence, having raised this issue ourselves as a committee with the ESB earlier in the year. We have correspondence to the effect that the ESB no longer engages in such a practice.

Second, I follow up with reference again to Deputy Stanton and others on the matter of the legislation. It seems to me that the lead Department would be the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. I am wondering if Ms Tunney’s coalition has had any contact with the relevant committee. Has the coalition made a presentation to that committee or has it sought to make a presentation? We would certainly be happy to write to the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Varadkar. On the legislation and the responsibility for moving matters on here, if we take a legislative route which has been mentioned, I do not think it would be the Department of Foreign Affairs. It seems to me to be the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. That committee would then have the consequent responsibility for pre-legislative scrutiny hearings. Ms Tunney might have a view on that. If the coalition has not engaged directly with the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, I would suggest that it does so. We could be helpful in that matter by informing both that committee and the Department by way of letter to the Tánaiste of our engagement with the coalition, not only this afternoon but also of previous engagements that the coalition has had with this committee. It is my hope that Ms Tunney would regard that as being helpful.