Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Good morning everyone. I thank the Cathaoirleach for inviting me to appear before the select committee today to take Committee Stage of the Bill.

The purpose of this Bill is to rearrange the corporate structure of Gas Networks Ireland. Gas Networks Ireland is currently a subsidiary company of Ervia, which was also the parent company for Irish Water. Irish Water has been moved out of that structure since the start of this year and is now called Uisce Éireann. This is a final housekeeping task whereby Gas Networks Ireland will become the gas company and Ervia will be retired as a legal entity. This law is a transfer of functions to make sure that every power Ervia had in the past is being devolved to Gas Networks Ireland. It is a technical piece of work to ensure continuity in order that Gas Networks Ireland can continue to function as it did in the past as a stand-alone entity and not as a subsidiary of Ervia.