Results 7,541-7,560 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Three or four years ago, CER tried to get the market to provide an interconnector but was not successful as there was no interest shown. People wanted to go down the route of getting an interconnector with a regulated rate of return as they were not going to operate on a market basis. Had the interconnector been absolutely essential, it would have been useful for CER to have been in a...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I remember that winter well.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I spent my five years in the Department of the Environment and Local Government. Every time I visited a local authority they wanted to tell me how poorly off and cash-strapped they were. They would produce the books to prove this to me and refer to the loss of rates and other sources of income. In the middle of it would be "snow money", the money that the then Tánaiste, Michael O'Leary,...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The lack of money was largely because of what happened between 1974 and 1977, and we can go down that route if the Deputies want.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Amendments Nos. 69 and 71 deal with recalling the Dáil in an emergency. I understand the purpose of Deputies tabling amendments, including the formula "with the approval of Dáil Éireann". However, in an emergency when the House was not sitting it would be ridiculous to force the Minister to seek the approval of Dáil Éireann. I cannot accept either of those amendments. We discussed the...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Arising from amendment No. 72, I hope Deputies realise there is a distinction between safeguards and taking full control of the energy system in the event of a crisis. If I was put into the national control centre I would not have a clue what to do. I do not think that taking full control of the energy system would be a good idea——

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I did not say I would be in control, I said I would be accountable for it. There is a difference.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: That is the effect of the wording of the amendment. It would mean that I would have to take full control.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: That might have the opposite and unintended effect of becoming an impediment to the swift action required in the normal function of these bodies in a crisis. Issues arise on the system on a fairly regular basis — the Deputy referred to 57 amber alerts last year. I know the Deputy does not intend this to mean that it should happen in the normal course of events, but it would be...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: We could have a philosophical discussion on responsibility and accountability. One of the issues about which we are all concerned during the winter is the availability of plant. We do not want a blackout or a red alert.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I did.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: It is tight and will be tight all winter. I do not want to overstate my concern about this issue, but I raised it with CER, EirGrid and the ESB last May. I asked them for written reports on it and asked if they were satisfied that we would be okay for the winter. I received assurances from them in September and further information a couple of weeks ago. I had a meeting with them two or...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I move amendment No. 75: In page 23, between lines 19 and 20, to insert the following: "2C. Where there is more than one member of the Commission the Minister may direct that the position as Chairperson of the Commission may be held by different members of the Commission on a rotating basis as determined by a direction from the Minister.". The current chairperson is in office for...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Yes.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: They are all related.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Amendment No. 57 is not accepted because it is not required. EirGrid is defined in Statutory Instrument 445 of 2000 and it does not require to be further clarified in this Bill. It is the transmission system operator. The Deputy's amendment, like the other amendments, may be designed to make EirGrid the owner of the transmission system. If I was starting out to design an electricity or a...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: ——through their ESOT or something else. If people do not have that in their mind, they should not have any difficulty whatsoever about seeing the transmission wires go to semi-State companies completely devoted to a transmission system operation. There is no reason they should have any objection. It is very difficult to understand the kind of fixation some people seem to have about...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: ——of all of the people who are the consumers and in the interests of competitiveness. However, we have what we have. I am quite satisfied that EirGrid as an organisation will act and control the transmission system in an independent fashion. They will do this in the best interests of the public and consumers and in the best interests of the economy and competitiveness. It is important...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: ——and minding what they have. For many years various Ministers with responsibility for ESB and for power, decided not to sanction any increases in electricity prices to the ESB. We are now paying the price for this policy and must spend €8 billion to €10 billion to renew the whole system. The other amendments are not accepted. They appear to have the objective of allowing EirGrid to...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: As the Deputy said, the amendments before us deal with the direction to be taken by the Minister. This was well debated on Committee Stage and I indicated I would consider the points raised by Deputies. I have tried to incorporate those proposals and amendments as much as possible. I propose, therefore, to comment on my amendments Nos. 49, 52 and 55. Amendment No. 49 addresses issues...