Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

In terms of regulatory appeals, is the purpose of the consultation process — I gather from the Taoiseach's answer that this is still under way — merely to bring about uniformity and consistency or does he envisage, depending on the outcome of the process, that new legislation designed to bring about changes in the current system relating to one or other sector will have to be introduced? Is the Taoiseach aware of what was the response to the advertisement of the fact that this consultation process is under way? Did it attract interest and contributions from consumer bodies as opposed to those that might have an economic or other vested interest in this matter?

In the context of the remarks the Taoiseach made in reply to Deputy Kenny on the area of energy, was the Deputy correct that the regulator may only deal, for example, with the extraordinary increase of 34% in gas prices on the Sunday before last in the event of Bord Gáis returning to him? I had been under the impression that the regulator may only review the matter once a year. If that is so, is that not an urgent matter for us to address in light of the hardship that will be caused by such an increase when, as Deputy Kenny pointed out, for example, the opposite is happening in the United Kingdom?

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