Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I think I understand what the Minister is trying to do but it may require some further clarification. First, my amendment No. 8 essentially states that generating plant subject to PSO, whether it be for peat or for anything else, should also have the windfall tax or the carbon levy, as the Minister has decided to christen it, applied to it in terms of power that is generated and sold on to the grid. That would provide more transparency for consumers as to the portion in terms of who is paying what as regards the PSO and the price of that electricity for consumers but I want to be clear on what the Minister is saying. Is he saying that when Tynagh and Aughinish Alumina are selling electricity on to the market they will be charged for that portion of electricity that they sell? In other words, when they are selling into the common pool, so to speak, they will be charged for that portion but the energy they use themselves, in the case of Aughinish Alumina, will not be subject to any carbon levy. Is that what the Minister is saying?

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