Dr. Paul McGowan:

I think the Deputy for the question. The powers relating to district heating are completely separate to any matter of windfall tax. There are not related. We have been given some limited powers around district heating. These are very specific powers under the renewable energy directive and the energy efficiency directive, particularly around identifying the requirements for billing and informational billing.

When we last appeared before the committee, we spoke about the fact that we need to develop a broad regulatory framework for district heating in Ireland to match Ireland's ambitions for the district heating sector. That work is being undertaken by the steering group that has been set up across the various agencies and the Department. We are awaiting the publication of the initial report and the work will start in earnest then to define that regulatory framework.

To be specific and to be absolutely clear, the instances referred to by the Deputy with regard to the customers and their prices is not a matter which would come under the current district heating powers we have been given.