John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

The amendment is not being accepted. We do not object in principle to Deputy Ryan's support of marked electronic metering and the various potential benefits it may bring to energy efficiency. However, the amendment is premature while the Commission for Energy Regulation is consulting on these issues. We believe CER is best placed to deal with the technical issues relating to facilitating micro-generation. The Green Paper on energy policy deals with the higher level policy matters in respect of renewables generally. The CER paper is in favour of further consideration of smart meters and a detailed consultation paper on this will issue shortly. We are not against it in principle but the amendment is premature and, therefore, we do not accept it at this time.

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