Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

On the last point, the ESB distribution system is an entirely separate operation from ESB Power Generation. I presume consumers switching to Bord Gáis, Airtricity or any other new electricity supplier should still keep the system that was put in place just as they will keep their wires. It would be farcical if people could not switch electricity supplier for fear of using their energy monitoring system in their homes. If that were the case the ESB would have a complete stranglehold on the market unless other companies were to provide similar information systems, which is essentially the kind of smart metering system the Minister envisages.

The Minister has not answered the question as to why we have gone from having a supposed pilot project of 25,000 smart meters which should have begun their roll-out in the middle of last year to now limiting our ambition to 8,000. Why is that the case? Is the Minister not concerned that the pilot project will only conclude - if all goes well between now and the end of it - by the end of 2010 and then the review period will continue into 2011? It will be mid to late 2011 before we make decisions on whether to roll out a national programme of smart meters. That is two to three years away. In the meantime we are trying to create a smart grid that can facilitate electric cars, micro-generation whereby people sell back to the grid excess power they produce in the home through solar panels, small wind turbines or other systems they might be using. I am concerned that in an effort to get this right we will take an ultra-cautious approach and will drag our feet for the next two to three years analysing a project that I believe we all know will be a success.

Should the ultimate goal not be to have in every house in the country a net meter, which measures electricity, gas and water so that we have a utilities smart meter?

See this speech in context