Mr. Michael Manley:

-----but let us be honest, which is the purpose of the committee. The Senator asked about the design of the new market and asked whether people who want to be energy islands and opt out would be faced with a charge. This question will have to be addressed. Last year, Storm Ophelia cost €30 million. If the 20 of us in this room decided we wanted to be energy islands and opted out, it would mean 20 fewer people paying the cost of that €30 million. Last week, 186,000 homes and businesses were disconnected because of a storm. The ESB had 2,000 staff out and 500 contractors. I do not know what the cost of that will be but it will be a cost to the system. It is not a reason to fail to do it but it is one of the complexities to be dealt with in doing it.