Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

Detailed analytical work commenced immediately following the Government decision with regard to Bord Gáis Energy, the ESB and the Coillte proposal, which is being considered. The process will examine the regulatory and legislative difficulties, the best placement procedures and how to obtain best value. These matters are currently under consideration. I am required by the Government decision to revert to the Government by the end of March to address those issues and to set out how we intend to proceed.

As for the other decision, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, is looking at those generating assets within the ESB which are non-strategic and which can also be available for sale. The idea is to sell Bord Gáis Energy with some ESB power generating in a bundle or sell some of the generating capacity of the ESB separately in order to have a significant nucleus of energy generating capacity that would be competitive and offer best value to ensure that the cost of energy is as competitive as possible. There is a double value. First, we will try to get a maximum price and, second, we want to get a strategic change so we will have real dynamic competition within the energy sector in the interests of business and the consumer.

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