Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for attending this meeting. Has the CER ever refused outright a price increase request from a supplier and could they give the details and frequency, if any, of such outright refusals?

On a separate matter, how can the CER justify its decision that all gas providers must pay for the cost of the two interconnectors between Britain and Ireland, whether they use them or not? Are they aware that such decision is jeopardising a €1 billion project in north Kerry by Shannon LNG which will create 650 jobs over four years during the construction phase and a further 50 permanent jobs? How can such a decision be good for competition and keeping down or, perhaps even lowering, prices? Could they explain the rationale for that? If the High Court decision due today is in favour of that company, will they give a commitment not to pursue the matter further and allow the project, and the creation of those badly needed jobs, to proceed?