Results 7,741-7,760 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: It is critical to the House in so far as duty, responsibility and accountability are concerned. Sadly, our system is becoming more like the American and European systems, where less accountability is evident in the House and more responsibility and accountability is delegated to groups outside the House over whom we have no control. This process sets aside the House and makes its Members...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I will do my best but one can never be sure of anything, although I am sure the Minister of State would like to do his best to accommodate the amendments. I do not accept the independence of the regulator. It is a crazy and outlandish notion. As has been evident in the past few weeks, regulators make decisions about the prices of electricity and gas against a backdrop of oil prices falling...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: The committee can ask him questions but he is not accountable.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I was afraid the Minister of State was going to read out that reply. I will try to be a good boy and not interfere as much. I could anticipate the list of responsibilities of the regulator. However, I do not accept that and in my view there are serious flaws in the system. There would be serious political embarrassment if we persist with the notion that we should have this so-called...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I move amendment No. 9: In page 4, line 31, after "Commission" to insert the following: "or from the Commission on the Direction of the Minister". This is a similar amendment to amendment No. 8. I await a firm, robust and warm response from the Minister of State. I do not expect such a response but I try to encourage it.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I move amendment No. 10: In page 4, line 43, after "2005" to insert ", subject to the approval of Dáil Éireann". I do not see any great benefit in my pressing the amendment because the Minister of State is not amenable to accommodating the House. A number of associated amendments have been tabled. I assure the Minister of State I will be pressing a number of them.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: It is interesting that this is precisely what I was referring to in the last amendment, namely who is calling the shots particularly on policy. Policy should be retained in the hands of the Minister and the House. There is no point in saying this is European legislation transposed into our legislation. That is of no benefit to consumers here or those in charge of transmission. I am...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I move amendment No. 16: In page 5, line 16, after "seas" to insert "as specified in the Schedule". If this amendment were accepted, the text would read: "'island of Ireland' includes its islands and seas as specified in the Schedule". I remember a dispute in the House over a certain offshore island and I therefore looked at the Schedule to determine whether it could be included in the...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I fail to understand that. Perhaps I just do not have the right angle on it. I thought my amendment presented a useful opportunity, particularly because it is considered useful to aspire to having an all-island energy policy. Such a policy would bring about the co-operation of the two regulatory authorities in the North and South and would bring recognition that it is better to have an...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I actually believed that was the case.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: We just threw it in for good measure.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I move amendment No. 17: In page 5, line 34, to delete "services" and substitute "services affecting other forms of home heating". The legislation, as it stands, reads: 'market in energy' includes a market in respect of— (a) the generation, supply, transmission, distribution and trading, including the export or import, of electricity, including electricity generated from renewable sources,...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: That is right.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: He threw it into the mix.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: In its rawest form.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: We could have had free gas.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: The Minister of State is not being very accommodating. I thought he would make sweeping changes and recognise the good ideas proposed. The three amendments in question all relate to a specific part of what we feel should be covered in this new single market. The purpose of the words "as may, from time to time, be determined by the Minister" in amendment No. 19, as mentioned by the Minister...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: The Minister of State has rejected the proposal contained in amendment No. 19 which sought to introduce an element of ministerial control. Section 3(6) lists the various areas in which the bodies will be incorporated, such as energy efficiency services, energy research and development and other sustainable energy activities. These other sustainable activities are not defined. This is a...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: It did not happen last week.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I move amendment No. 19: In page 5, line 36, after "activities" to insert the following: "as may, from time to time, be determined by the Minister".