Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I would be happy to see gas being provided to Tipperary, Thurles, Callan or any of the towns mentioned. However, we must revert to the discussion we had earlier. We must keep our electricity and energy prices low and competitive. It would be easy to come to this side of the House and take on responsibility for the allocation of infrastructure such as this if one could promise it left, right and centre and disregard the actual cost to the consumer at the end. If a grid was built to an area where there might not be an economic case for doing so, and I am not saying that is the case in any of those towns, it would put the price of gas and electricity up for every other town. Any Member of the Opposition would scream foul and point out that the gas prices were too high. That is why this issue is left within the regulatory system and Bord Gáis. It is not a political decision. It is better that it is done on an assessment of how to keep prices low as well as providing the obvious benefits of gas for manufacturing, bakeries and so forth. We cannot have it both ways. We cannot scream prices are too high and in the next breath scream that the grid must be built to a place where it might not be economical but might bring other benefits.

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