John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

I am always inspired after listening to Deputy Durkan. The term "single electricity market operator" is the title ascribed to the EirGrid-SONI contractual joint venture which will carry out this function. The title is reflected in both this Bill and the corresponding Northern Ireland legislation and must be uniform in both. I consulted with the Parliamentary Counsel following Deputy Durkan's raising of it on the previous occasion. I am advised that the counsel intentionally refrained from abbreviating the term "single electricity market" in all but certain references to it in the Bill in the interests of ensuring the legislation is more reader friendly, particularly with regard to the clarity necessary when referring to the licence functions of the market operator. I am also advised there is no legal requirement to have uniform abbreviations throughout the legislation and that it is editorially undesirable to do so. Therefore, I cannot accept the amendments.

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