Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

We are straying from the section. The Bill was passed without debate in the Dáil and we will have a wider debate on the economy when the next Bill is taken. We would all like natural gas. Under the Gas Acts, Bord Gáis has a commercial mandate and the company chooses to extend its network on that basis. The Senator is seeking a ministerial announcement. However, I recall the chairman of Sligo Chamber of Commerce securing a commitment from a former Minister of State, Mr. Joe Jacob, regarding the supply of natural gas to Sligo but sadly, it has not happened yet. Government subvention will be needed to extend the network throughout the country. I hope that with budgetary measures such as those we are passing today more finance will be available to allow the Government provide a subvention for Bord Gáis which has to operate with a commercial mandate to extend the gas network to the entire country. I look forward to this and would like to see it included in the Bill, if possible.