Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Bord Gáis was set up as a gas distribution company, is operating profitably in that capacity and will remain as such. In recent years it has built up an energy-generating capacity, in competition with another State company, ESB, which heretofore had a very significant share of the energy-generating market in the State. As I indicated in my response to Deputy Sean Fleming, the entry of another player would be good for consumers, both domestic and commercial, in a context where energy prices in this economy are far too high. We must ensure there is real competition in the market. We have the prospect of a double benefit from the sale of the energy-generating capacity of Bord Gáis Éireann and some of the capacity of ESB, although, in the case of the latter, the first two power stations to be offered for sale are not on this island. This will be good for competition and will provide a fund for reinvestment in the next generation of State companies and the infrastructure we require to grow our economy and create jobs. The largest deficit in the economy is the deficit of jobs.