Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

On what has happened with regard to regulation generally, a unit in my Department is working across the whole OECD area and the 2001 report. It is actively driving implementation and working with other Departments in trying to move it on. In some cases, it is the regulators who have the responsibilities. In other cases, a number of regulatory bodies are involved in respect of the professions and all the reports relate to range of professions. I have previously replied to Deputy Kenny in respect of this.

In respect of the reports specifically mentioned by Deputy Kenny, ComReg's latest quarterly data covering the fourth quarter of last year details what is happening in the telecommunications area. There is a long list of data. It provides an update of what is happening in the Irish market and what happened last year with regard to Smart Telecom and all the other areas. They have followed up these issues.

In the energy sector, there have been communications between the Department, the Commission for Energy Regulation and the ESB. They have followed up with regard to Bord Gáis and the tariffs and so on. There has been follow through on all these areas covered in the 2001 paper.

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