Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

I have serious concerns about ComReg. This has nothing to do with the regulator but our experience of regulators in this country has been shabby. The Minister should be ultimately responsible and should have control. He should be able to see where things are going wrong and put a stop to it. Quangos such as the HSE and the NRA are very bad in this country. I refer to the recycle 16 directive, which provides for social protection. I ask the Minister to ensure this is included in the legislation.

Senator Quinn referred to Germany but he did not mention the massive number of people who lost their jobs. Some 21,000 full-time jobs were lost and 12,000 part-time jobs were lost. I come from Athlone, with one of the four main postal centres. It provides the best service and they are amazing people. I do not want to lose any jobs in the Athlone area. In Athlone we had our very own Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, Paddy Cooney.

At that time he was in control. He ensured the service was run efficiently. More people were using the service then. The art of letter writing will come back. Times have changed. Children will start to write letters again. We must keep a connection with people throughout the country. I urge the Minister to bear the role of the regulator in mind. The Minister should keep control and ensure we do not give power to a regulator who is not caring or who is asleep, as has happened.