Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)

I thank the Minister for his response. One of the key findings of the Department's report was that the ESB's market share in electricity generation should reach a 60% market share by 2005, but currently its share stands at 83% of the market. If current trends are maintained, by 2007 its market share will still be around 75%. Is the Minister in discussion with the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, the Taoiseach and his predecessor in the Department, on this matter with regard to competitiveness and related issues?

With regard to the nuts and bolts of the effect of the lack of competition in the electricity market, we have seen a change of situation from the mid-1990s, ten years ago, where Ireland had among the lowest electricity prices for industry in Europe to a position where, for the past five years, we are among the three highest in Europe; only Italy and Cyprus are higher. In terms of competitiveness this is felt most markedly among the food and beverage, the pharmachem and electronic sectors of industry, which are responsible for more than half the money spent by industry on energy costs, even though they are the mainstay of employment here and are responsible for more than three-quarters of the gross value added of goods produced here. On those terms, is the Minister seeking to initiate a Cabinet debate on the issue? What legal mechanisms exist, for him or the Government, to bring the ESB in line with what is a voluntary commitment on its part in reaching a 60% market share by this year?

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