Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)

Like my colleagues I congratulate Deputy Nulty on his great win in Dublin West and I wish him well with the work those of us on the Government side must do in the years ahead.

I welcome the Bill which for the first time will provide a legal framework which places an obligation on energy suppliers and distributors. The Bill also contains miscellaneous provisions on pension schemes for former ESB employees. The Bill will ensure the Government meets its energy efficiency targets of a 20% reduction in energy demand by 2020. This is crucial, as previous speakers have stated. A European directive exists in this area which promotes energy efficiency and the provision of energy services by energy distributors.

The Bill will restate in primary legislation obligations on companies such as the ESB and Bord Gáis and will give the Minister powers to introduce an energy demand reduction target which will specify the quantity of savings to be achieved by all retail energy sales companies and energy distributors over a period of time. Companies such as the ESB, Airtricity and Bord Gáis will be required to offer services such as wall insulation and provide help to consumers. This will be of benefit to consumers who are already put to the pins of their collars and need all the help and support they can get from energy companies.

Competitiveness and the costs associated with it have improved in commercial buildings which were upgraded through insulation, and this is to be welcomed. If companies and distributors do not sign up to energy efficiency schemes, they will have to invest money in an energy efficiency fund, and this money will replace the Government money being invested at present in schemes such as the home energy saving scheme, the warmer homes scheme and the green homes scheme. These will be consolidated into one better energy homes scheme and the companies will be required to contribute to it. These schemes are also important from an environmental point of view as a measure to reduce carbon emissions and greenhouse gas emissions in the years ahead.

The provisions of the Bill deal with the pension arrangements of former ESB employees who have moved to Gaslink or EirGrid. These changes are being included in primary legislation in case of future court cases.

With regard to energy fraud and energy theft, at present the Commission for Energy Regulation does not have the power to investigate or enter premises to check out various matters. Under the Bill, authorised officers will be able to search premises and seize evidence and this is to be welcomed. As previous speakers stated, costs of approximately €30 million are being passed on to consumers at present and any way to strengthen the regulator's powers is to be welcomed.

The Bill contains many benefits and one of these is reduced usage of energy from fossil fuels. We need to become more energy self-sufficient as each year we spend billions on importing oil into the country. It will also encourage consumers to upgrade their homes, which will reduce their energy bills. It will also ensure Ireland achieves its commitments in European legislation to provide energy savings by 2020.

Earlier this year the ESB announced it would help those in arrears and the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, was very active in this area and must be commended. The token meters need to be rolled out to many homes, particularly those on lower incomes and household budget plans. I hope the other suppliers will follow suit.

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