Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I have received a number of items of correspondence from the Ceann Comhairle. While I am always delighted to receive correspondence from the Ceann Comhairle, I would have preferred them to be in a more positive form. In order to facilitate the Ceann Comhairle and the Minister in future, a number of questions were refused on the basis that the Minister had no responsibility to the House. Two Bills are promised, one of which is to extend the remit of the Commission for Energy Regulation and to require it to comply with general policy directions of the Minister. I thought the Minister was supposed to do that anyway. The electronic communications (miscellaneous provisions) Bill is to provide access to broadcasting networks and delivery of contents services to all end users at retail level. Both Bills are the responsibility of the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and are eligible for reply in the House. I ask that these Bills be introduced in the House as a matter of urgency so the Ceann Comhairle is not forced to write to me informing me that my questions are out of order.

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