Parliamentary Questions Numbers

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 June 2013

Tuesday, 18 June 2013

Questions (283)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

283. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of parliamentary replies issued by him or Ministers of State from his Department to this Deputy on a yearly basis from 2011 to date in 2013; the number of these replies that contained an undertaking to provide information or extra information requested either from his Department or a body under the aegis of his Department; if he intends to begin replying to Parliamentary Questions on the record of Dáil Éireann with answers from bodies under the aegis of his Department; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that other Government Departments with bodies under their aegis provide written answers on the record of Dáil Éireann without having the bodies reply to the matter directly in private to Deputies; if he intends to rectify this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29255/13]

Written answers

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

I wish to advise that the number of Parliamentary Questions which my Department has responded to the Deputy on during the period 2011 to date in 2013 is set out in tabular format below. Comprehensive responses were given to all of these questions at the time they were answered and no undertaking was given to provide any additional information.

Year	Number of PQs Answered
2011	1
2012	2
To date in 2013	7

The total number of Commercial State bodies and Non-Commercial State bodies, including 3 Regulators, under the aegis of my Department, is 18. All of these Bodies have been established on a statutory basis, in most cases have independent Boards, and operate independently in the exercise of their functions. In view of the number of bodies under the aegis of my Department and the importance of respecting their mandate and the operational freedom conferred on them by the Oireachtas, I consider it more appropriate if the bodies respond directly to any questions put down by members of the Oireachtas, especially in relation to operational matters. There may be occasions depending on the nature of the question where it would be more appropriate for me to respond directly in the matter.