Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response, which I had headed off to some extent when I pointed out that we need to revisit the criteria that are laid down by the Commission for Energy Regulation. To refer again to the Chairman's home town of Ballaghaderreen, it has a massive creamery with the same ownership structure as the creamery in Nenagh and also has significant energy demands. Not only are we jeopardising jobs in Ballaghaderreen and similar towns, but we are also limiting the capacity of the region to capitalise on the potential growth that will emerge from the abolition of milk quotas in 2015. As a result, part of the country will not be able to secure the same level of economic growth as the south because it does not have access to natural gas, which is vital for processing liquid milk. It is frustrating to hear everyone argue the west is not nearly as efficient at producing milk as the south. Some people dispute that contention but the reality is that the west is far more efficient at producing milk than any other part of Europe outside of Ireland. We cannot avail of the potential for growth arising from abolition of quota 2015 because we do not have access to natural gas. The west would probably meet the regulator's criteria if one were to take into account this potential growth but we must first build the factories and demonstrate increased demand if the gas network is to be extended. Investors will not make investments on the basis of a hope that gas will be provided at some point in the future. We are at a disadvantage in this regard.

The Minister indicated he is not prepared to ring-fence part of the funding and set out reasons he is unable to do so. At a minimum, the criteria for the cost-benefit analysis by the Commission for Energy Regulation need to be reassessed to take into consideration the potential for economic growth and the need for greater balance in economic development. Such a regional balances is currently absent and towns such as Ballaghaderreen, Boyle and Roscommon are suffering as a result.

To try to progress the debate, I ask the Minister, on Report Stage, to make provision in the Bill requiring that once the disposal of the asset is complete, a report will be furnished to the House setting out how the proceeds will be distributed and what job initiatives will be allocated moneys. Every contributor on Second Stage noted that the purpose of the legislation is to create a vehicle for generating moneys for job creation purposes. The Minister has indicated his hands are tied in this legislation and he cannot set out priorities for job creation. The Bill is either a vehicle for job creation or it is not. If it is such a vehicle, the least that should be done is to provide in the legislation that a report will be furnished to the Oireachtas - depending on the outcome of the forthcoming referendum, it may be the Dáil only - setting out what criteria will be used in respect of the allocation of the funds that will be generated from the sale. This would allow us to identify what are the job creation strategies and how they will impact on the country, in particular with regard to balanced regional development.

I regret that this is our last opportunity to bring gas to parts of the country that do not have access to the gas network. The economic challenges facing our region will increase in the years ahead as industry declines and it haemorrhages jobs because local companies are not able to compete with other parts of the country. It will be a self-fulfilling prophesy as a result of the lack of provision of gas to the north west. We had to wait for a gas discovery off the coast before a gas network was established to export it. We should not have had to wait for this network.