Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 24, 44 and 91 together.

In my recent address to the Energy Ireland conference, I stated that the Government did not favour the privatisation or atomisation of the ESB in any circumstances. Future possible directions for the electricity sector, taking into account all relevant considerations including the development of the all-island single electricity market, competition, security of supply, generation adequacy and consumer needs, will be articulated in the energy policy Green Paper, under preparation in my Department, which will be finalised shortly. I intend to publish the report by Deloitte & Touche into the electricity sector in the wider context of that Green Paper. The Department of Finance and the Commission forEnergy Regulation have received copies of the Deloitte & Touche report in confidence.

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