Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

It is tight and will be tight all winter. I do not want to overstate my concern about this issue, but I raised it with CER, EirGrid and the ESB last May. I asked them for written reports on it and asked if they were satisfied that we would be okay for the winter. I received assurances from them in September and further information a couple of weeks ago. I had a meeting with them two or three weeks ago during which they assured me everything would be all right. I had a meeting this morning and received categoric assurances. Those two bodies, particularly the CER, are responsible for advising me and when they tell me the system is okay I have to accept that they are the experts. While I accept their word that it is not going to happen, suppose we have a blackout during the winter. As a member of the Opposition, Deputy Broughan would call for my resignation, as would everybody else; I am not picking on the Deputy in particular and I do not seek to make a political point. However, what more can I do than ask the experts who are responsible for advising me and get their assurance, as I have done? I should not resign if there were a blackout. I have a clear idea who should resign in that event, and it would not be me.

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