Vol. 508 No. 4
119 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the progress, if any, she has made in relation to the serious issues of public safety relating to the Register of Electrical Contractors of Ireland in order to ensure effective consumer protection in this area arising out of the debate on the Electricity Regulation Bill, 1998. [19340/99]
I have previously outlined to the Deputy that my Department has no statutory function in relation to this issue. My Department is responsible for policy relating to the economic regulation of the electricity industry.
The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment will shortly establish an interdepartmental-agency group to review and report with appropriate recommendations on the State's approach to public safety in general. This group will be charged with reviewing the adequacy of current administrative-regulatory arrangements for general public safety. Safety issues relating to the electrical contracting industry will be one of the issues to be examined by this group.
