Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I wish to tease out with the Taoiseach the issue of the energy regulator. Is it not true the regulator, who previously as a civil servant had written the legislation that set up the regulatory office, established the office in such a way that the Minister cannot direct him on specific policy directions the office needs to take, whether on the issue of security of supply, where we have a huge threat with regard to peak and global oil production, on the issue of cost of energy, where we currently see huge cost increases, or environmental issues with regard to the future of climate change implications and energy policy? Is that not the reason legislation is pending which will amend the regulatory role to allow the Minister have a say? Does the Taoiseach think it was appropriate to give a regulator such freedom that the Minister cannot give directions to him or her?

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