Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

Surely the tail is wagging the dog on this. The Government sets energy policy. The Minister of State agrees, as the Minister said publicly, that the Government believes this is a step in the right direction. What he appears to be saying is that the Government is not concerned about small scale generation, that it was not in the Green Paper — for shame — and that the matter will be left to CER. As Deputy Broughan has indicated, CER's position is remarkably cautious, conservative and backward. Either the Government is responsible for energy policy or it is not. The main excuse the Government offered for the problems in recent years were that international prices were responsible and that while it might have wished to do so something differently, ultimately the Commission for Energy Regulation has the authority and the Government cannot give directions to the Commission for Energy Regulation. Given that it appears the Government agrees with the concept as outlined, and we are legislating in regard to the powers of the commissioner, I find it remarkable that in this instance the Legislature and the Executive are balking at implementing policy in which it believes. What assurance can the Minister of State give that the consultation process carried out by CER will lead to an outcome with which the Government will be satisfied, given that the Government is avowedly in favour of the intent of this amendment?

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