Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I thank Members for their support and their suggestion that tight timeframes be imposed on State bodies. State bodies include regulators, and that is why the Taoiseach met all the State's regulators in Farmleigh recently to discuss the need for better and speedier regulation. In addition, some regulators - I do not want to single out the Commission for Energy Regulation in this regard - have not been taking a developmental approach to their work. Such an approach is important in view of the economic crisis, and should be adopted by regulators when they consider the timeframes they apply to such cases. That is why the specific measure put forward by members of the Opposition was welcome. We had pencilled in an eight-month process, followed by recourse to the Minister.

Senator Walsh asked to whom a promoter can appeal if they feel a regulator is not doing its job properly. They can appeal to me as Minister of State or whoever occupies this position in the future. The Minister of State can then enforce a timeframe if the regulator has not been efficient in dealing with the case. That is irrespective of complaints or the mention of resources and so on. If a promoter has a worthy proposal and believes the process has been too slow, I or my successor as Minister of State can order the regulator to complete the process within a specified time. That is how it should be. Many people within and outside the House are sceptical and believe we set up regulators and then let them go off and do their own thing. The political system ultimately must be in command. People elect Members to this and the other House with the expectation that we will put pressure on the system and ensure it performs to a high level.