Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I have not seen the report but I understand it has arrived in the Department. It goes through the process of being seen by the Assistant Secretary General and the Secretary General before coming to me for consideration. That process has not yet been completed, so I have not seen a copy of the report yet.

I believe it is appropriate to have a separation of the ownership of the EirGrid transmission assets. We created EirGrid as an independent company and it is operating independently. I cannot see how that is enhanced by having assets in its ownership in a separate location. That is my personal view. I accept this is complex and that it is right for us to take a high level view of it in terms of the economic costs and the mechanisms for making that happen, but I believe it is the right thing to do. I do not understand the Deputy's proposal with regard to the creation of a single utility or single network company. Is he saying he would prefer to sell the generation and supply company and create a separate single network utility where distribution and transmission would be together? If not, and if he is seeking to maintain the distribution company and the generation and supply company as a single unit and bring EirGrid back into it, it would be a significant reversal of policy.

I have set out my personal view and the Deputy can hold a different position. I look forward to seeing the report. It is right to check the Deputy's view and to get genuinely independent consultants-----

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