Ms Loretta Joyce:

When these networks are regulated through the licensing regime, the commission expects the effort to be much less than what it currently is in relation to inspection and administrative overhead in issuing instructions to each operator. The application fee is €200 and we did consult and decide a few years ago that we would not levy these operators. The reason for that is that there are a large number of operators with a very small number of customers. We did not feel that it was efficient to try to recoup all of those levies from those operators. Instead, as Mr. Gannon has said, the ongoing activities are expected to be less resource-intensive once they are in our framework. However, the commission will keep it under review. In respect of the gas emergency officers, they can be appointed by GNI or by the CRU and we have restricted the appointment of the gas emergency officers by a licensed LPG undertaking, such as Calor and Flogas. It would instead come to the CRU to determine who should be authorised. As they have significant powers we felt that was more appropriate.