Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)

The programme for Government contains the commitment - or threat - to break up the ESB by stripping it of its transmission assets. The Government has in its possession the Cahill report, which clearly sets out the lunacy of that approach. Nevertheless, I see the legislative programme envisages an electricity transmission assets Bill. When is it proposed to publish the Cahill report and what will be the timetable of the Bill? The uncertainty hanging over this large State utility is causing great difficulties for business and investment planning, and it also has industrial relations implications. The Cahill report should be published so we can have the debate and keep the ESB strong and intact.

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