Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am not sure what way the Minister of State's speaking notes are numbered but it is almost as if he was responding to amendment No. 4, which specifically deals with extending the period to which the windfall tax will apply. This is a specific element relating to hedging practices and the lack of oversight thereof. In fairness to the Bill, it brings in an element of oversight but it is restricted in terms of the timeframe. There was a similar amendment on Committee Stage. The Minister of State is hearing this from right across the political spectrum of the Opposition and I am sure there are others on Government benches who are of a similar mind. This is just a useful tool for the CRU to have. It does not mean that the general public has to be aware of individual companies' hedging strategies. The regulator should have this power and have oversight of these strategies, however.

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