Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

On promised legislation, I will ask the Minister about an issue near and dear to his heart, namely, the electronic deficiencies in the Black Valley in his constituency, which does not have an ordinary or proper telephone service. Any signals there are bad. The Minister has an opportunity to make the quantum leap and indicate how he can deal with it in the context of the electronic communications miscellaneous provisions Bill.

Since the Minister has the dambusters beside him, it is an appropriate time to ask about the hydro potential of the Dublin Port tunnel. In this context, the energy miscellaneous provisions Bill comes into focus as to how soon he will be able to encourage the relevant Minister. I see the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Brennan, is smiling. As it was he who invented the port tunnel, I would not smile too much about it. Anybody going through it will have to carry an umbrella. Perhaps the Minister might indicate on both the Black Valley and the energy miscellaneous provisions Bill.

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