Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I understand the Commissioner is addressing the transport committee. I have no control over the agenda set by the committee.

No doubt there are many issues of concern, not least about what will happen following Brexit and the impact it might have, as well as the safety of passengers. It is my understanding Ryanair flights were disrupted because the safety of passengers was the priority, rather than the commercial interests of the company which were not served by the decisions taken. The company had to put up its hand and admit to its failings. That is an example of regulation working.

On the question of whether regulators in general should be funded by levies imposed on the industries they regulate, it is common practice in the case of most regulatory bodies. The reason for it is that while regulation is important, the general taxpayer should not pay when the industry should pay by way of registration fees for the oversight of services a regulator provides. It is important to the reputation of the industr, which is very clearly set out in the legislation.

The source of the payments in no way compromises the authority's primary commitment to safety. It is accountable to this House and others for how it executes its mandate. It can be called to account at any stage. The use of levies, whether in banking or other regulated sectors, to meet the cost of regulation is a common practice across all jurisdictions.

We have used the model in most of our regulator activities. It has never been shown to compromise in any way the exercise of the statutory obligations of these authorities.

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