Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Tuesday, 31 January 2023
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action
Engagement with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities
Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the witnesses for appearing today. I wish to make a point about the large energy user subsidy. We need much more detail on that. We are in an incredible situation. I welcome the discussion on the extension of the moratorium. There is always a loaded argument on moral hazard and how certain types of people will act in a certain way if they are given the comfort of a moratorium in the middle of a crisis. I do not believe that is borne out in the evidence before us here. When people have money to pay their bills, they pay their bills.
I want to focus on security of supply and our capacity going into winter 2023.
There are some points in the additional information relating to temporary emergency generation and the progress made in that regard. Under point 5, there is a reference to capacity market auctions for later this year and the years ahead. What is the generational capacity picture for this year? What is new and coming on stream and when will it be delivered? Various media reports have indicated there is a question mark over some of those projects regarding the financial viability committed to some years ago. Will our guests set out where those projects are and how confident they are as to whether they will be delivered?