Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

As a matter of coincidence, the International Energy Agency published its review today of the effectiveness, efficiency and competitiveness of the Irish energy sector. The executive director from Paris was here to launch that document and the conclusions of the review find the work of the Irish regulator praiseworthy.

I accept the point made by Deputy Spring and inform him that within days the letters will issue to ensure that the network tariffs liaison group will be set up to commence the process. It is a matter for others as to how quickly they will respond to that. I am, to some extent, in the dark in that since the regulator made its decision on 29 June, I have not had any response from the company. Neither has the regulator had a response, to my knowledge. I hope that is a good sign and I also hope the company is engaging with the decision. I am disappointed to hear Deputy Spring say that he thinks the decision will not bring the necessary regulatory certainty. Getting the decision had been delayed by actions of the company, in terms of making complaints to Europe. Nonetheless, the regulator published its decision on 29 June, with the purpose of giving regulatory certainty. I take some hope from the fact that the company has not made any reaction to me or the regulator that it will engage in private with the regulator in terms of assessing what precisely are the implications of what is, as Deputy Spring said, a highly complex area.

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