Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

Questions were asked about the difference between Bord na Móna, the plcs and the semi-State companies that are not plcs. The major difference is one of reporting and due diligence that must be pursued. There is not much difference in regard to governance but there is some. Whether a company is a plc or not, in the context of what Deputy Broughan asked, if it wants to expend a significant amount of money on capital, it still has to consult with the shareholders and get shareholders' approval. This has been discussed in regard to the ESB, BGE and Bord na Móna. One still has to get shareholder approval.

Deputy Eamon Ryan raised the issue of whether there is a legislative or regulatory block or changes in regard to Bord na Móna and co-firing. There is not from the point of view of the Government. I am not aware of anything that prevents it from becoming involved in co-firing. The reference is more to regulations from the EPA and others. At one stage, the burning of bonemeal in one of the power stations arose and Bord na Móna was told it would have to go through a full EPA licensing process even to trial it. There is nothing in the current legislation that states it cannot go for co-firing. As the Deputy is aware from the Green Paper and from the views I have expressed, I wish to encourage it and prolong the lifetime of the stations for as long as we can.

In reply to Deputy Eamon Ryan, the other possibility is that it may give rise to questions in regard to the PSO. That may have been what was referred to at the time. The short answer to what the Deputy asked is that there is nothing in the legislation that would prevent it from happening at present.

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