Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Will the Minister leave the issue with the Commission while we examine it? Will the Minister agree that no REFIT contracts will be entered into under the new scheme pending discussion by the committee? The allegation made is that a margin is given to the supplier - not the person with the wind farm who must operate through a supplier - for virtually no risk and if the price increases the supplier gets all the benefit. If the price is low the State foots the bill and if the price is high the supplier, rather than the producer, gets all the benefit. Therefore, there are two major gains for the supplier for virtually no risk. These are not the people who build the wind farms but the major companies who would put the electricity on the market. Will the Minister clarify the amount to be paid to the supplier multiplied by the total number of megawatts he intends to produce, multiplied by the 15 years these contracts would be place? Will he hold back on issuing any REFIT contracts until the Oireachtas committee has had an opportunity to examine what, prima facie, appears to be a serious giveaway from the State?

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