Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

I acknowledge that while this may not be the Deputy's favourite topic, it is the one he raises most often. In this instance I do not propose to accept the amendments. Amendments Nos. 5 to 8, inclusive, deal with the definition of related enactment. A related enactment, for the purposes of the Bill, includes any Act or statutory instrument under which ComReg has a function. The other amendments relate to regulations to be made under section 46A of the principal Act, as inserted by section 14 of the Bill. As the Bill states, any regulation made by me is required under section 3 of the principal Act to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas and may within 21 sitting days be subject to an annulling resolution passed by either House. In deference to the Deputy's efforts to include such a provision in legislation on other occasions, I advise him that this requirement is also being extended to regulations made under the European Communities Act 1972, under proposals contained in the European Communities (Amendment) Bill currently passing through the Houses of the Oireachtas. In this case the Deputy's favourite topic is being met within the Bill. Therefore, the amendments are not necessary.

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