Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I think the Ceann Comhairle was surprised that a vote was not called on the last proposal. I could see that registering. No. 13 is a case where the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is effectively bringing in a brand new Bill on Report Stage. I accept the principle of the Bill, as has been outlined by Deputy Coveney on a number of occasions, but in this case, what is essentially another service unit or layer of bureaucracy is being included to deal with communications.

What the Minister is doing in the use of ducting along national primary routes is correct in principle but this is not the way to go about it. This Bill is supposedly about premium rate services for telephones and although it began as such it is ending up as a brand new Bill being introduced on Report Stage, which the Dáil will not even have an opportunity to discuss properly or amend if necessary. For that reason I am opposed to the proposal.

See this speech in context