Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It was quite recent. As Zhou Enlai said about the French Revolution, it is too early to say, but one formal meeting has taken place. I agree with a great deal of the thrust of what Deputy Mulherin has said. If the Chairman will permit, I will make a brief comment on the costs issue. The problem is that it is a commercial marketplace - the Deputy understands that - so many of the cost elements are outside of the control of the suppliers. One is dependent on issues such as international gas prices, but there are things we can do, such as to have the most efficient transmission system, to put a greater emphasis on energy efficiency - as we did last week when we launched the €70 million energy efficiency fund - to go outside the residential sector, and to focus on public and commercial buildings. That can make a big contribution.

The Deputy referred in passing to energy poverty. She will notice from figures announced yesterday by the regulator that there was a large reduction in disconnections this winter and that is largely due to the emphasis we have put on the installation of pay-as-you-go meters. The Deputy is right that people relate the energy debate to how it affects their domestic budget. There is no disputing that.

As regards the expert panel, I have had no contact with it other than thanking it for agreeing to conduct the task. I am advised that following its next meeting it experts to be in a position shortly to announce the terms of reference. That expert panel is chaired by Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness.

Community gain is a hugely important aspect. The more we try to introduce it into the debate the more somebody will say that we are trying to bribe communities in order to deliver transmission. I do not see it that way. It is right that communities should benefit and it is certainly included very prominently in the proposals we have been preparing for the intergovernmental agreement. In fairness, it has become the practice among developers to actually offer it. The intellectual argument is one that is also being considered by my colleagues in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, and my Department has an input into that. Those who attended the briefing by EirGrid will recall that it too has accepted that there is an obligation on it in this particular regard. The developers with whom I have been speaking acknowledge that they have to make a contribution in that regard.

I hope that following its next meeting in the first week of May the expert panel will have the terms of reference.