Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 5:

In page 12, between lines 27 and 28 to insert the following: “(i) in subsection (1)—

(I) by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (1)(a):

“(1) (a) The Board shall own, operate, develop and maintain a system for the transmission and distribution of natural gas being a system that is both economical and efficient and in so far as practicable perform its functions in a manner consistent with—

(i) the most recent approved climate action plan,

(ii) the most recent approved national long term climate action strategy,

(iii) the most recent approved national adaptation framework and approved sectoral adaptation plans,

(iv) the furtherance of the national climate objective, and

(v) the objective of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the effects of climate change in the State.”,

and

(II) in subsection (1), by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph (b):

“(c) nothing in paragraph (a) shall be construed as imposing on the Board, either directly or indirectly, any form of duty or function to promote, advertise or incentivise new connections to transmission or distribution gas systems.”,”.

Amendment No. 6 is in the name of Deputy O'Rourke. Amendment No. 5 is in my name. This amendment intends to amend the functions of the board, that is, Bord Gáis Éireann. The first element of the amendment intends to require the board to own, operate and maintain a system for the transmission and distribution of natural gas in a way that aligns with section 15 of the climate Act. I referred to this in my earlier contribution. Section 15 of that Act requires the relevant bodies, the majority of which we would call public bodies, to perform their functions insofar as practical in a manner consistent with the climate Act. This would include the climate action plan, the long-term climate action strategy, the most recently approved national adaptation framework and approved sector adaptation plans in furtherance of the national climate objective, the objective of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the effects of climate change in the State. As it is a State-run organisation, it should not be at all controversial to align the functions of the board in this way.

The second aspect of the amendment further updates the functions of the board to ensure there are no requirements on the board to promote or advertise new gas connections. The Minister of State has largely addressed this point during our previous discussion. He has reassured us that Gas Networks Ireland is a relevant body under the climate Act. It is good to have that on the record. it is important that we remind Gas Networks Ireland it is a relevant body and the Minister of State has done that, which is welcome. This amendment is related to my earlier amendment No. 4. Those two amendments intend to do the same thing. I accept that the Minister of State has addressed the point. Perhaps he wishes to speak again. I do not intend to press this amendment.