Mr. Bobby Smith:

The Cathaoirleach asked a question about the CRU, which might be important to touch on. Each of these stakeholders, whether it is the CRU, the Department or EirGrid, will have a different role to play in this procurement, alongside industry, of course. The Department sets the overall energy policy, specifically for energy storage as well, and this upcoming policy framework is going to be very important to do that. It has a key role in setting that high-level guidance or mandate. EirGrid is best placed to design the procurement. It has the highest number of technical experts on the market, the grid and what needs to happen, so we feel that it is the most appropriate in that regard. The CRU has a key role in ensuring this is delivering the best value for consumers and ensuring matters such as security of supply and decarbonisation as part of its mandate.

There is a role for each of them; none of them is going to do it on its own. That is why our key ask today relates to the co-ordination of those stakeholders. The CRU is absolutely going to be involved in the cost-to-consumer mandate to EirGrid, but we need all these actors to speak to one another.