Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

The Government has promised the electricity regulation (EirGrid) (amendment) Bill during this session, which will facilitate EirGrid to build as well as own its first asset, an east-west electricity interconnector between Ireland and Britain. That raises concerns about the electricity (transfer of transmission assets) Bill, which was repeatedly been promised for 2008 by the Government and the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Section C of the Government's legislative programme states it is not possible to indicate a publication date for the Bill. Does this reflect a change in Government policy on structural separation between the ESB and EirGrid?

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