Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Is it correct to say Ms MacEvilly was with the Department when this change was initiated? The Minister of State believes responsibility for this matter rests with the CRU. From answers to freedom of information requests from Senator Boylan, it is clear that there was an instruction from the Minister of the day that a €50 million relief be provided for large energy users and for that the burden be redistributed to domestic users. The CRU was given the role to implement that measure and assess, on an annual basis, the appropriateness or need for it. The instruction issued by the Minister seems to make clear that the relief will be €50 million annually for an indefinite period. There is no indication of when this measure might ever end. How did the CRU assess whether it was needed year on year? How did it assess that it should amount to €50 million?

The Minister of State pointed to reviews in 2014 and 2019. A legitimate point has been made about democratic oversight by these Houses. How was that overseen? Was this measure considered appropriate for the year ahead every year?