Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

I have just received a copy now. I appreciate that Deputy Coveney would need to have a copy. It is not good enough that Members have to come begging for copies of a Minister's speech. I do not wish to labour the point but when the Minister is making his contribution, we should have a copy of what he is saying. It is a reference for us and is useful, and it leads to a better debate. This is so obvious that I am embarrassed to even mention it. It really raises questions about how this Bill has been managed.

We were dealing with a Bill to cover the ground relating to premium rate services and difficulties encountered with standards not being applied in that sector. This is the subject matter of the Bill. Regtel was to be abolished and amalgamated with ComReg and this was the focus of our attention. In reply to a parliamentary question last week, the Minister made the point very clearly that he did not intend to introduce any amendment on Committee Stage but rather on Report Stage and relating to a matter that had absolutely nothing to do with premium rate services. The Opposition supports the principle of the amendment but, as Deputy Coveney has pointed out, we do not have an opportunity to amend or put forward amendments to what the Minister is proposing. We tried to be helpful by putting forward a Government-framed amendment on Committee Stage but it was ruled out of order as not being relevant to the Bill. At least there is logic in that ruling, but this highlights the illogical approach taken by the Minister and it is very unsatisfactory. It adds salt to the wound when, as Members, we are trying to catch up and do credit to the Bill and the changes in it, but we cannot have a copy of the Minister's speech. I hope I have made my point.

We want to see this type of development where the National Roads Authority will take on responsibility for enabling telcos to access ducts. It makes sense to deal with one authority when a national primary route travels through several counties.

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