Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 26:

In page 13, line 8, after "application" to insert the following:

"provided the interests of the end user or customer are acknowledged".

This is very similar to the amendment in the name of Deputy Broughan in the sense that it attempts to ensure the protection of the interests of the customer or end user, whichever title is used. They could be one and the same, although this is not necessarily true.

I await the Minister's response. We discussed a similar theme on Committee Stage when we spent a considerable time on the issue, as Deputy Broughan mentioned in speaking to the previous amendment.

It is a question of reiterating our concerns about how the consumer might be left sitting high and dry and how information is necessary for the Minister to be able to take action, even if it is somebody else's responsibility. There is always a place for political action and reaction. In the political arena, the Minister has the best chance of acting and must be informed of the requirements on an ongoing basis.

This is no disrespect to the regulator, but who will, after all, get the blame but the political system? That is why I put the amendment for the Minister's consideration.

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