Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I was afraid the Minister of State was going to read out that reply. I will try to be a good boy and not interfere as much. I could anticipate the list of responsibilities of the regulator. However, I do not accept that and in my view there are serious flaws in the system. There would be serious political embarrassment if we persist with the notion that we should have this so-called degree of impartiality by setting up a series of groups and agencies with responsibilities that were previously invested in the Minister and in the House and which are gone.

I asked a parliamentary question about the arbitrary increases in the price of fuel and telecommunications and the reply from the Ceann Comhairle's office was that the Minister had no responsibility to the House. Where are we going? When the public is actively engaged in debate on subjects of this nature, they think very poorly of any situation where somebody throws up their hands and says: "We have made rules and regulations, we are no longer responsible." The public will come to the conclusion that we are not responsible and take the necessary action.

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