Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

I welcome this as far as it goes. I thank the Minister for having gone part of the way that I wanted him to go. I believe in the fundamental geographical and - I hope in the future - political and social unity of this island. Therefore, I would like it to be enshrined in primary law that the uniform tariff should apply to a letter posted from anywhere within the State to anywhere on this island. I am glad the Minister has come some of the way. I particularly note that despite all the Minister's protestations earlier that he cannot be directing here and there, amendment No. 20 provides for the phrase "with the prior consent of the Minister" to be included in sections 28(2)(b), (c) and (d). He has proved my point that it is easy to write lots of ministerial consents into the legislation. The idea that to do so would interfere with the independence of ComReg in some way is totally undermined by all these provisions requiring the consent of the Minister.

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