John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."

I am grateful for this opportunity to present the Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Single Electricity Market) Bill 2006 for the consideration of the House. When enacted, the Bill will underpin the creation of a single wholesale electricity market on the island of Ireland. It forms a key part of the Government's priority legislative programme. It proposes to amend the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 to provide for the establishment and operation of a single competitive wholesale electricity market on the island of Ireland, hereinafter referred to as the single electricity market or SEM. For the convenience of the House, a detailed explanatory memorandum has been published, which provides a synopsis of the Bill's provisions.

The main provisions include: an extension of the functions of the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, as required for the establishment and operation of the SEM, including the trading and settlement code for the market; establishment of an SEM committee, which will make decisions on SEM matters — the SEM committee will simultaneously be a sub-committee of both the CER and its Northern Ireland counterpart, the Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation; provisions to allow modifications to licences to ensure that both existing and new licensees can participate in the SEM; and provisions for the establishment of a market operator, MO, to carry out the day-to-day trading and settlement functions for the market.

To put the Bill in context, I would like to speak briefly on the background to and rationale for the establishment of the all-island single wholesale electricity market. Creation of the new market is set in the context of long-standing co-operation between the two jurisdictions, North and South, on common energy issues. Both administrations have a shared interest in more competitive energy markets, reduced energy costs and improved reliability of supply. The mutual benefits to be gained by working together on this agenda are already evident and what has been achieved to date offers a model of best practice in developing co-operation between North and South. This co-ordinated approach is also set in the context of the European Union's single market for electricity and gas and the growing regionalisation of energy markets.

In November 2004, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, and his then Northern Ireland counterpart, Mr. Barry Gardiner MP, published the all-island energy market development framework. The framework set out a blueprint for co-operation to create a sustainable all-island energy market and outlined the short to medium-term objectives in a number of key areas including electricity, gas and sustainable energy. Creation of an all-island energy market will bring benefits to the island as a whole, including a larger single market with competitive energy prices, greater security and diversity of supply, a more attractive investment location and a robust, integrated infrastructure.

The key short-term priority within the framework agreement is the introduction of the single wholesale electricity market on the island of Ireland. There is strong political commitment, North and South, to delivery of the market by 1 November 2007. A key task for both Governments is to ensure that an appropriate legal framework is in place to underpin the SEM. Implementing the market will require similar legislation to be enacted simultaneously in both jurisdictions. A memorandum of understanding, MoU, between both Governments, setting out the broad parameters of the SEM, is also a requirement on the Northern side. It is expected that the MoU will be signed by the Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey, and his Northern counterpart, Ms Maria Eagle MP, following Government approval of the document next week.

The parallel legislation, which is being introduced in the North by an order in council through Westminster, needs to be enacted in both jurisdictions by April 2007 to allow sufficient time for market trials and to ensure that the new market will be operational by the committed date of 1 November 2007. This is a tight deadline and it is important that it be met. Any delay in introducing the market would result in loss of investor confidence and contribute to regulatory uncertainty. There would also be negative financial implications for market participants.

I will briefly outline the main provisions of the Bill. Section 4 amends the Electricity Regulation Act 1999, hereafter described as the Act of 1999, by providing for the establishment of a single electricity market or SEM committee to carry out SEM regulatory functions on behalf of the CER. A corresponding provision is being made in the Northern Ireland legislation so that the same statutory framework is in place for effective decision-making for the market North and South. Up to seven members may be appointed to the SEM committee under ministerial warrants from among the members and staff of both regulatory authorities, the CER in Ireland and the NIAER in the North. A member independent of both regulators will complete the committee.

The CER and the NIAER will work together through the SEM committee to exercise their respective regulatory functions. In compliance with section 5, the two regulatory authorities will jointly publish a statement setting out the procedures and working arrangements of the SEM committee. Appropriate provision is made both in section 8 and in the Northern Ireland order in council, to facilitate the sharing of all relevant information to accommodate the carrying on of all-island market business.

The functions necessary to establish and operate the market are conferred on the CER by section 7. These functions will include, inter alia, the making of regulations for the purpose of trading in electricity on an all-island basis, including the trading and settlement code, requiring all licensees to trade all electricity generated by them through the SEM, and the establishment of an appropriate threshold to be applied to different classes of licensees in fulfilment of this requirement. These functions will be mirrored by the NIAER in the North.

The day to day trading and settlement of the SEM will be carried out by a market operator, or MO, established by licence under section 11. The MO licence will include appropriate terms and conditions relating to participation in, and the operation of, the SEM. The market operator function will be carried out jointly by the two transmission system operators, EirGrid in the South and SONI in the North. Other licensing provisions in sections 12 and 13 allow for modifications to licences to ensure that both existing and new licensees can participate in the SEM, together with the publication process for such modifications and breaches of licence terms and conditions.

Section 9 sets out the principal objectives of the Minister, the CER and the SEM committee in carrying out their respective functions concerning the SEM. These include a primary objective of protection of the interests of consumers of electricity on an all-island basis, wherever appropriate, by promoting effective competition between market players participating in the SEM. Other stated objectives include the need to ensure that all reasonable demands for electricity are met, the need to ensure co-ordinated regulation of the market, the need to have transparent pricing in the SEM, and the need to avoid unfair discrimination between consumers in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The establishment of the SEM will bring a range of benefits. It will facilitate improved competition and investment opportunities by expanding the market. It will facilitate the exploitation of efficiencies and economies of scale in areas such as generation reserves, plant mix and fuel usage, and will introduce more transparent and equitable trading arrangements.

An all-island electricity market will have around 2.5 million electricity customers — i.e. 1.8 million in Ireland and 0.7 million in Northern Ireland. While this is relatively small in the EU context, it is still a considerably larger market than the two single markets operating independently, and will provide an improved base for the entry of new market participants, both generators and suppliers. This market dynamic should also serve to increase the competitive pressure on prices while providing some economies of scale for market participants. A single market will also lead to a reduced duplication of functions thereby realising cost savings. The strategic benefits for the island will include increased market size, shared reserve costs, shared fuel diversity costs, a boost to investor confidence and a more competitive environment for the island as a whole.

The costs and benefits that are expected from the establishment of the SEM have been subjected to an independent analysis by consultants. In addition, the regulatory authorities have carried out an analysis of the likely short-term price impact of the new market. Estimating the costs and benefits of this unique project a year before it is due to go live, and while arrangements are still under development, is of necessity complex. However, the Minister believes the assessment that has been done is both conservative and as realistic as possible.

The overall findings of a draft cost-benefit analysis to assess the long-term economic impact of the SEM are positive and indicate an estimated net social benefit of €147 million net present value over a ten-year period. Over 20 years, the net social benefit is estimated at €428 million net present value. The benefit share is split roughly evenly between North and South and mostly accrues to customers with, approximately, an 80:20 split between customers and generators.

In addition to these benefits, the study suggests that a range of other benefits will accrue from the single electricity market, SEM. These include improved competition, reduced market power, environmental savings and enhanced effectiveness of the regulators from pooling of experience. The initial findings of the short-term price impact analysis indicate that, at current fuel price projections, the SEM is not likely to have a significant impact on electricity prices over the opening years of operation. Continued softening of oil and gas prices should bring about a beneficial impact on prices.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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In conclusion, this Bill is an important measure in the delivery of the Government's energy policy. It is clear that the all-island approach to energy policy is one of the main binding elements of the policy proposals set out in the Green Paper. Our long-term energy future lies not as two distinct energy markets isolated from the rest of Europe but rather as part of a regional energy market in conjunction with Britain and, possibly, other close European neighbours. Maximising our potential market size and ensuring competitive and efficient markets in both electricity and gas are at the core of our approach and this places the all-island dimension at the heart of energy policy development for the future. The development of the SEM is a key part of that policy in the interests of consumers and businesses on both sides of the Border. I look forward to listening carefully to the views of Members on this important and ground breaking legislation and to their assistance in progressing the Bill into law. Molaim an Bille don Teach.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I am delighted to have an opportunity to speak on this important legislation. I congratulate the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Browne, on bringing it before the House. I hope the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, is happily ensconced in Hanoi, is in no danger there and rings home on a regular basis.

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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He is safe enough.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I have heard he has been on the Tannoy.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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He met the Minister of Post and Telecommunication, Do Trung Ta, today.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for the important briefing received from his officials and acknowledge the importance of this unique piece of North-South co-operation that will be of benefit to both parts of the island. I accept that the all-island market will be of benefit and that economies of scale, of which both sides can avail, should ensue.

It is important in these situations that the ground rules be recognised and consumers North and South of the Border are of the utmost importance in this matter. I hope joint ownership of the market, for want of a better description, does not see daft decisions made such as the gas and electricity price increases we have seen in recent months despite the opposite occurring internationally. I do not know how this can be justified and I hope no attempt is made to justify such actions in future. The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, have been making noises in recent weeks suggesting this issue is still being examined, despite the circumstances mentioned existing for some months. I hope there will be unison evident in the actions of the two sides involved to the benefit of the consumer.

Another element to this issue is the benefits that will accrue from the availability of more interconnectors and there will be North-South interconnectors in addition to east-west interconnectors. These interconnectors will be hugely beneficial to the operation of the electricity and gas markets in this country but it should be recognised that the UK already has access to the nuclear sector. That is what they have done traditionally and it is fine, but we should not use this new situation as a means to slow the development of alternative energy sources. In terms of economic independence and integrity regarding the grid we must be mindful that easy options in the North-South market could slow development of the alternative energy sector. I do not doubt this would be the Minister's intention but we must be forceful about it because people tend to take easy options when the going gets rough. The easy option would be to draw on the cheaper electricity generated by nuclear energy in the UK and Europe. This would not be good for the country but, more importantly, we must ensure we proceed with the development of the alternative energy sector.

There are many forms of alternative energy and I am aware that environmental issues arise whenever any type of energy is generated. Some say wave generated electricity will affect the development of shores and sand bars and they are correct. We can develop fuels for transport that will reduce emissions, as is required and as was mentioned in discussions on the previous Bill that came before the House. Emissions will never be removed entirely but we can improve the situation dramatically and as science progresses it is hoped ways can be found to reduce the environmental impact of energy usage generally.

I am sure the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Browne, was astounded when the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, said today that the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, reforms had been hugely beneficial to the environment because they closed down the agriculture industry. He was referring to the food export industry on which this country depended. I had the fun of hearing a European Commissioner in the House telling us how lucky we were to avail of the benefits accruing from reform of the CAP. That is total rubbish as the Minister of State knows.

The beef industry in this country was the backbone of the agricultural sector for many years and the day is fast approaching when the European consumer will find insufficient stocks to meet requirements. To put things in perspective, this country has approximately 7.5 million bovine animals while in Argentina that figure is 90 million and in Brazil it is 180 million. If Ministers for Agriculture in Europe wish to get their acts together they should, at least, be realistic about what they are doing and ask themselves how much impact they are having by dealing with the situation in this fashion.

I wish to refer to other forms of alternative energy that are readily available and can and should be developed in this country. There are sewage treatment plants all over the country and many of them are spilling into rivers as we speak. They often stink to high heaven with methane gas pouring into the atmosphere, for ten years in some cases. I do not understand why something is not done about this. I was doing my rounds in August, as we all do, and got out of my car in a village where I was overpowered by the level of methane gas. When I inquired I was informed the local sewerage scheme had broken down and the whole community, for a ten mile radius, was inhaling what is a form of energy.

If we are to make this electricity market work we must examine the alternatives and develop them to the best of our ability without taking the easy option to escape reality and make excuses when things do not happen. This is a good Bill which will have tremendous benefits, specifically in the area of North-South co-operation. Nevertheless, the Fine Gael Party intends to table a number of amendments on Committee Stage.

Enlarging the energy market and delivering economies of scale do not offer complete solutions because both parts of the island will need to significantly develop the energy sector in response to population and economic growth. I hope the peace process will continue on track and deliver major economic benefits to the country. Many citizens do not realise the contribution the peace process will make to economic development. However, economic growth will also increase demand for energy.

Economies of scale must be borne in mind. If Ireland had the same population density as the Netherlands, our population would be approximately 48 million. With such a population level, our energy requirements would be massive.

Research and development must continue if we are to expand the energy market and meet the energy requirements of our citizens. The United Kingdom and many more of our European partners have defined their future energy strategies. Some countries have achieved significant expansion in the alternative energy sector. The mix of energy our partners will use to generate electricity includes conventional fossil fuels, gas, wind and nuclear power. Approximately 80% of France's electricity supply is generated by nuclear power plants. It is important to note that the approach taken on the European mainland may not work as well here.

It is good that the electricity grid will be jointly operated by the Northern and Southern authorities. We must sing from the same hymn sheet and ensure prices are not arbitrarily increased in either jurisdiction. Prices must increase or decrease as the market demands, having due regard to the needs of industrial and domestic consumers.

Security of supply and the integrity of the grid are essential. I do not accept that other countries are better equipped than we are to address this issue. Irish energy producers have coped with supply problems in the past when they received the necessary support. Grid operators on the Continent have failed to maintain electricity supply at least twice in the past 18 months. Only a few weeks ago, large parts of Germany, Italy, Spain and other mainland European countries experienced a major power outage, despite having well-run grids and excellent information available to grid controllers and regulators.

While regulators are necessary in an expanding electricity market, the purpose of regulation is to give the consumer the benefit of competition.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Is the Deputy concerned about job losses in the offices of the two regulators? The Minister forgot about that.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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The merger of the regulators could result in job losses. Government policy in both parts of the island must direct future developments. We should not allow regulators to dictate policy. I do not suggest the Minister of State would permit such an eventuality but Ministers have been known to bob, weave, duck and disclaim responsibility in matters for which they should be responsible.

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Fine Gael Party supported the appointment of a regulator.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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The objective of my party in doing so was to benefit and protect the interests of domestic and industrial energy consumers. This has not always been the case. I heard people moan on radio this morning about the reasons the price of electricity should be reduced. As I indicated earlier, it is better late than never. On what basis were prices increased two months ago given that prices were falling all over the world at the time? One need not have been a nuclear physicist to have worked out that prices were falling on the markets. On the day the increase in the price of gas was announced the product was free on the London market. Despite our sophistication, we have not yet defied gravity.

The consumer should benefit from changes in the energy marketplace. This will require significant investment both in research and development of the alternative energy sector and in security of the grid. Interconnectors should not be developed to the point that they discourage research and development in alternative energies.

Fine Gael Party policy is to invest €500 million on research and development in its first four years in Government. I watched Ministers raise their eyebrows and describe this proposal as outrageous, yet in recent years the Government has received dividends from the ESB amounting to €350 million and benefited from a further €360 million in extra VAT arising from hyped up prices.

I hope someone will not decide in 12 or 18 months that higher energy costs are necessary. Any such move would have an immediate negative knock-on impact on the economy. More than 30,000 jobs are being relocated to other jurisdictions because energy and other costs have increased to the extent that it is no longer possible for the companies in question to remain here. This trend affects all constituencies. County Donegal, for example, is experiencing serious job displacement because the economy is becoming less and less competitive. This is an unsustainable position.

We must invest heavily in developing alternative energies, rather than waiting for the interconnector to open in order that we can use energy resources generated elsewhere. While we can also export via the interconnector, it is not certain we will do so. The use of the interconnector will create dependence on the European grid, which has failed twice in the past 18 months. It is only when the lights go out that we realise how important it is to have access to a permanent supply of energy. The Ministers, North and South, must accept responsibility for directing the regulators. When we exchange places in the House, I will happily put in place the measures required.

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The regulator will be long retired by then.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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The way things are going he may have to retire long before then but not for the reasons the Minister of State supposes.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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The Minister of State is on 29% in the polls. He will definitely be back in the Dáil.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I hope we will all be in the next Dáil.

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The only one who can be certain of that is the Ceann Comhairle.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Policy direction must remain the political responsibility of Ministers, who are responsible to their legislatures; the wisdom of any deviation from that must be questioned. It might be good to escape the responsibility, something Ministers like to do, but once the power to direct is removed from the Minister's hands, it goes to whomsoever's guess is best.

I mentioned our future energy needs increasing. I hope the regulators will have due regard for this and will not only report to Ministers on time but will indicate the growth rates necessary in the industry as demand increases.

Electricity will become hugely important for road and rail travel and the degree to which we rely on it will change. The Japanese have invented a motor car with all the attributes necessary for long journeys — torque and acceleration. It is like what happened with mobile phones, which used to have massive batteries. These cars can accelerate from zero to 100 kilometres per hour in four or five seconds, equivalent to a Maserati. They have the same brake horsepower as the modern saloon car, the acid test for feasibility. Within the next four years, we will see electric cars readily available and the electricity market must develop accordingly. If a person parks his car, there should be a socket to plug it in while he is about his business. Filling stations will change completely because it is unlikely that someone will leave his car for three hours while it charges. It is a question of recharging the batteries when the car is not being used, something that depends on where it is parked.

Electricity usage does not automatically lead to emissions, which are caused by the mode of generation and how the generated energy is used. Wind generation is a beneficial addition to the market that must be continued. We all know there will be resistance to wind turbine developments in certain areas. They must be located sensitively.

The British now emphasise microgeneration. This can affect the security and integrity of the grid depending on the degree to which those who opt for microgeneration rely on a supply from the grid if they become becalmed. It has been suggested that becalming will not take place but I do not accept that. When traders depended on sail power, the trade winds were vital and many travellers could be becalmed for days or weeks because there was no wind. It is a serious issue.

It has been suggested that entire swathes of the countryside could not be affected at the same time but that is not how it works. It might not happen at the same instant but it could happen within a single hour, in which case there will be a need to draw on the grid. The degree to which the grid can hold up in such circumstances depends on imponderables. We must ensure the various components contributing to the grid are such that in the event of power shortages, power from other sources will be sufficient. Otherwise, there could be no electricity.

There are those who say that we survived before electricity, but we have become accustomed to it. There are also those who object to the alternatives we may have to use in the future. No system is without its problems but if we are sensitive about where we locate our generation points and about environmental needs, there will not be many problems. If, however, we wake up one morning and the lights do not come on and there is no power or heat, it will concentrate minds. A whole new appreciation of what we are about will arise.

I hope the Bill is as beneficial as intended. I wish every good fortune to those, North and South, who are committed to this Bill. It is a good idea that improves and expands the market. It may not resolve the market's problems entirely — nothing will because it will continue to expand — but the Bill's benefits should accrue for consumers. They are the people for whom such legislation is intended. It is not for regulators to instruct us and tell us we are lucky to be able to live in a certain way.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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I refer to a press release I received from the Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey who is in Hanoi where he met Dr. Do Trung Ta. The Vietnamese Government is spending $4 billion on an ICT system. This is approximately €3.7 billion more than what the Irish Government is spending over the next eight or ten years. It is hoped the Minister will come back from Hanoi a changed man when we will be tabling some amendments to the current Bill. If I knew he was going to Hanoi I might have been able to send on a message from my own Vietnamese constituents who are so hard working and diligent.

I welcome the introduction of the single electricity market Bill as a truly historic step linking the two very small and isolated electricity markets on this island. The Bill marks a significant development in energy legislation and it has profound implications for the long-term energy system. I have long been an advocate of practical patriotism, of ensuring that concrete measures are in place to contribute to the increased co-operation and harmonisation on both parts of the island for the economic benefit of all the people of the island.

I have some general concerns at the outset about the mechanisms that have been used on the British side to pass the legislation. It must go through an Order in Council to give effect to the legislation in Northern Ireland. There is a hiatus in the existence of the Northern Ireland Assembly but it is to be hoped that the Assembly Members and the democratic process in Northern Ireland is not being excluded from this important debate. People in the North are very aware of this debate. I heard Ian Paisley junior talking about the energy supply board. He had the title slightly wrong but it is clear he knows that the Electricity Supply Board will henceforth be playing a significant role in the electricity market in both parts of this island. It is to be hoped that the use of this Order in Council does mean an attempt to bypass democratically elected Members of both Dáil Éireann and the Northern Ireland Assembly in favour of control by regulators or technocrats. This matter has formed the basis of many of the amendments tabled by Deputy Durkan and me during the past year.

This Bill and its proposals have been under discussion since 1999 when the Minister's predecessor, Mary O'Rourke, set off on our side of the Border on the long path that has finally led to this historic day. The Bill deals with the technical issues of establishing the single electricity wholesale market, the provision for information between the various parties to the single electricity market in section 8 and the provision of a licensing framework for the establishment of the single electricity market operator in sections 11 to 13, inclusive. The operation of those new sections will fundamentally alter the electricity market in both parts of Ireland.

A number of issues are referred to in the Deloitte & Touche report and in the report entitled, The Development Framework for the All-Island Market, which was published in November 2004 by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources in conjunction with DETI, the Northern Ireland Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment. These include the need for a single transmission system operator, the harmonisation of tariffs, common grid codes, generation adequacy reports, common generation adequacy reports, metering policy — which the House discussed last week — the harmonisation of carbon trading policies and renewable and energy efficiency policies and a host of other issues which are not dealt with in this modest Bill. The ongoing delays and haphazard manner which has characterised the tabling of the single electricity market Bill, indicate the overall apathy with which the Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats coalition has dealt with energy matters.

IBEC used a phrase of mine when referring to energy. It stated that the current, outgoing Government is sleepwalking on energy policy. It is to be hoped it will sleep walk its way out of office and Deputies on this side of the House will be given a chance in four or five months time to shape energy policy from the Government benches. I welcome the Bill but it is regrettable that the date for the single electricity market to go live has been postponed for nearly six months, from the original target date of July 2007 until November 2007.

The recent Deloitte & Touche report on the electricity sector in Ireland criticised the barriers in place for the achievement of the 2010 renewables targets and argued that "if there is any delay in the delivery of the single electricity market target opening date of July 2007, overall industry and investor confidence may be negatively impacted". This is stated on page 42 of the Deloitte & Touche report. The Government has failed to meet the target date and it has been lethargic on a whole range of energy matters.

I refer to the Minister's comprehensive opening contribution in which he refers to the cost-benefit analysis. I compliment the departmental officials who were very helpful to the Opposition regarding the development of the legislation. I note that the cost-benefit analysis promises an estimated net social benefit of €147 million, net present value, discounted over a ten year period. Over a 20 year period the net social benefit is estimated at €428 million. The split is supposed to be 80:20 between customers and generators. The Minister, his officials and the regulators have a key responsibility to ensure this happens. This House should be bringing in a much bigger, all-island electricity market which would mean lower prices to consumers. Both Members and the Ceann Comhairle have received a torrent of e-mails from small and medium-sized businesses which do not know how they will be able to meet that 20% tariff rise if it happens on 1 January as they are also suffering from the rise in gas prices.

This Bill should be regarded as a means of bringing about lower prices and if it does not, then the work of the House is misplaced.

The Minister should inform the House the reason for another six months delay in the introduction of the single electricity market. Reports in the media suggested there were problems with the computer system and the detailed market modelling could not be done. The Sunday Business Post reported that there were difficulties in obtaining work permits for the necessary specialist staff. I ask the Minister to inform the House whether this has happened elsewhere and whether other electricity markets have been linked together and integrated. There are not too many examples of where this has been done. In that regard I know it is a difficult and historic path on which we are embarking. We were informed there were technical problems but the Minister has never briefed the Opposition on the reasons for the six month delay nor has he addressed claims that it was because of delays by the Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats Government in bringing forward the necessary legislation which is finally before the House today. He will need to indicate whether any other legislation is planned and whether this is just the first of a series of Bills. This Bill is an amendment to the 1999 Act which set up CER and which must be read in conjunction with the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. I ask the Minister to address the question of the initial delay and the further delay to November 2007. Our officials have endeavoured to quantify in cost-benefit terms the exact advantages to this country and to the people of all the island of the implementation of the single electricity market. The two markets are so small, it is understandable there have been many problems.