Mr. Jim Gannon:

This is where we have a sort of make-or-buy decision. If resources are available in the labour market, we need to continue to try to bring in those experienced resources. Our organisation is curious because we need economists, scientists, engineers, legal specialists and people with a range of other expertise in support of our work programme. If we cannot buy those resources, domestically, on the European market or elsewhere - we have quite a multicultural staff - then we make them.

We bring in swathes of graduates every year. We particularly focus on our graduate programme to train individuals to support the programme of work and our longer-term strategy, both of which we pursue. We also engage with the Economic Regulators Network, the Irish group of economic regulators. One topic in that area is not just recruitment but also retention. As an engineer, you can see your career profile as a chartered engineer in engineering companies, but there is no degree course to go into the profession of regulator. Perhaps there never will be but it is important for us to reflect and understand that. Along with our European regulatory counterparts in the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, and ACER in Europe, we also examine that and examine the profile of expertise we require in regulators. It is noted by regulators across Europe that it can be difficult to find and retain staff. Retention is a challenge because staff who have been within a regulator for a period of time are sometimes quite attractive to regulated entities which may seek similar insights and skill sets.