Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have abandoned our economic sovereignty thanks to the policies pursued by our predecessors and we are doing our best to sort it out. An independent assessment was carried out by PwC on behalf of the Department to establish which semi-State body would be appropriate and would have the necessary skills and expertise and two companies were considered, namely, Bord na Mona and Bord Gais Éireann. Its independent recommendation, which was subsequently approved by the Government, was that Bord Gais Éireann had the best synergy to deal with the issues because it was already involved in dealing with utility customers.

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