Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

Many other issues arise concerning security of supply. Recently, for example, we heard a rumour that the ESB was to take over Viridian. What will happen if somebody else takes over Viridian and becomes the owner of the Northern Ireland network as well? What implications would that have for the single electricity market and for the Republic's market?

Until today, most people would have feared that the ESB was in a dangerous limbo regarding electricity generation. Last week, I asked the Minister whether he was concerned that worries are being expressed that our future electricity generation capacity will be inadequate, particularly from 2008 to 2009. For that reason, I welcome the fact that the ESB has been sanctioned to build a new 400 MW power station at Aghada, County Cork, in return for divesting generating capacity by 1,300 MW. The ESB is divesting over 200 MW immediately, a further 300 MW by June 2007 and 700 MW by 2010. Hopefully, this decision, if agreed by the ESB and its workforce, will ensure that extra capacity will be put in place. Nonetheless, we will still be fearful of facing into a dangerous 18 months or two years. The Government must take the blame for that emerging energy security gap——

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