Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

I have had discussions with the ESB on several occasions, including some, for instance, in the context of the Green Paper and in the aftermath of the Deloitte report. Departmental officials have discussions with the ESB on a regular basis about an entire range of issues relating to energy and electricity markets, security and adequacy of supply and so on. It is my understanding that the ESB and the CER also engage in discussions, but I am unsure as to the degree of formality. I am not sure whether those discussions take place in the context of a consideration of licensing a plant. There would also be discussions between EirGrid and the ESB, between EirGrid and the Department and between the CER and the ESB. A whole range of different bodies and organisations meet to discuss these issues on a regular basis. It is hoped to finalise the White Paper in January and it would be useful if it was published in the context of finalisation of the Aghada proposal. It will also include the energy capacity requirements until 2012. I understand I do not have power to direct the CER on specific conditions on a licence.

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