I start by setting out the background to this matter. On 20 June 2001 my predecessor, the present Leader of Seanad Éireann, Senator Mary O'Rourke, at the time Minister for Public Enterprise, was asked by means of a Dáil question for her views on the establishment of a statutory authority for the regulation of the electrical contracting industry. She indicated that she had always placed the highest priority on matters of public safety, a priority which I share. It was for this reason that she had, through the Department of Public Enterprise, as it was at the time, formally request the Commission for Electricity Regulation to advise her on the potential of a role for the commission in the regulation of the electrical contracting industry. She also asked how it could best approach the performance and oversight of such an additional function in the most cost effective and efficient manner.