Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

I mentioned on Committee Stage that further consideration would need to be given to the electricity transmission consent procedures which are set out in sections 182A and 182B to ensure they would cover all of the infrastructural projects we have envisaged. At the request of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, we have decided to make a number of clarifying amendments to section 182A to ensure it encompasses the proposed east-west interconnector between Britain and Ireland.

The key issues are as follows. First, ensuring that the interconnector, which may not be owned by the ESB, can still come within the terms of the Bill, although in general the electricity transmission system is by definition owned by the ESB, there is an exception in the case of an electricity interconnector. Under new provisions to be enacted in the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006, an interconnector may be constructed, operated or owned by a person other than the ESB. Amendment No. 44 makes a parallel amendment to our legislation.

Second, we want to change the words "statutory undertaker" in the sections, to "undertaker". This simple change is again intended to ensure that any private company proposing to construct the interconnector comes within the terms of this Bill.