Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy noted, section 24 of the Bill provides that the amount of the annual levy will be provided for in the licence. Obviously, this will not apply to the next licence, as those determinants will be made by me because the regulator has not yet been created and I want to get on with issuing the licence. Having again listened to Deputy Fleming and the points he made on Committee Stage, I understand his concern is that once the office of the regulator has been established, the regulator is being given a blank cheque to travel the world, enhance his or her office or God knows what. Section 17 of the Bill provides that the appointment by the regulator of his or her staff, as well as their numbers, grading and remuneration, will be subject to the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Consequently, the regulator will not be able to establish some great phalanx of support and luxury that must be monitored by me. Even when the next licence comes up in 20 years' time, as the Deputy rightly noted, it will be done by the regulator in line with the direction of the Minister then in office. I do not expect to be around myself in 20 years' time. However, Deputy McDonald of course is highly likely to be around in 20 years' time and in office. She might give such direction at that stage in respect of the duration of the licence, its financial terms, as well as the terms and conditions for the granting of the licence. I believe the measures set out in the Bill are the way to go about this. There is transparency and accountability in this regard and I do not propose to accept the amendment.

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