Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. Cuireann sá alltacht orm go bhfuil Aire de chuid an Lucht Oibre ag tabhairt Bille den chineál seo os ár gcomhair - go bhfuiltear ag díol chomhlacht Stáit atá ag déanamh brabaigh ag am a dteastaíonn infheistiú sa Stát seo. It is not without irony that the Gas Regulation Bill is being introduced by a Labour Party Minister. A little over one year ago at a Labour Party conference the members gave a resounding message to their party leadership to the effect that they would not accept the sale of State assets. Yet we find ourselves in 2013 with a Labour Party Minister introducing a Bill to sell off Bord Gáis Energy.

The troika promotion of privatisation is clearly an ideological approach that benefits a small group of transnational corporations. Its insistence on entrenching neoliberalism is also profoundly anti-democratic. The sale of Bord Gáis Energy forms another part in the long list of attacks on public goods.

Bord Gáis Energy is a dual fuel all island business which serves more than 825,000 customers with gas and electricity North and South. Bord Gáis Energy is by any standards a successful company. In 2012 it had a gross operating profit of €79.4 million compared it to €44.3 million in 2011. It is by far the biggest player in the domestic gas market at present with a 60.97% market share in June 2013. Why is the Government selling off such a successful company? Bord Gáis Energy is hardly a millstone around the neck of taxpayers; in fact it is returning a profit to the State. Thus, the sale of Bord Gáis Energy can only be described as an ideological move, one fuelled by the austerity agenda of the Troika. Reports anticipate that the sale of Bord Gáis Energy could raise between €1 billion and €1.5 billion. However, recent estimates have predicted the price to be at the lower end of that scale. Half the proceeds will be available to fund employment-enhancing projects of a commercial nature with the other half destined to pay down debt.

The Minister has given assurances that jobs at Bord Gáis Energy will be protected. However, under a policy of deregulation and privatisation jobs are never as secure as they are under State control. Can the Minister guarantee that the current employees of Bord Gáis Energy will have their jobs and livelihoods protected? In the greater scheme of things, Ireland is a small country. Bord Gáis Energy currently controls 60.97% of the domestic gas market and a significant portion of the electricity market. The sale of Bord Gáis Energy to a private operator will likely be handing a monopoly into private hands, especially in respect of the gas market.

The sale of Bord Gáis Energy also has a direct impact on an important debate that is taking place in Ireland at the moment. Bord Gáis Energy is involved in the development of wind energy projects. Sinn Féin fully supports the idea of wind energy development. However, we prefer the Scottish model. Ireland has a target of 20% renewable energy production by 2020 and we have consistently called for a national strategy to be laid out for this target to be reached. The matter has been debated in the House many times. What we are seeing is a proliferation of wind farms being developed but questions are being raised about the related planning processes and there is no national strategy on the development of wind energy. It is like bolting the stable door after the horse has bolted.

We believe it is imperative that State and semi-state companies play a major role in the development of wind energy projects. What we have seen far too much of in Ireland is private companies taking the lead on the development of wind energy projects without proper planning or consultation with the local community. Local communities in Connemara are absolutely up at arms. They are trying to raise questions about the way some planning applications were granted. They are being given the run-around completely by the local authorities on the issues. They are angry at the way this is being done. There is a sense among people that local authorities, the Government and these private operators worked in cahoots to hoodwink the local communities in the development of wind farm projects which they do not want in their communities in the way they are being developed.

If Bord Gáis Energy is to be sold it would remove the option of such initiatives being taken through that semi-state company. The Sinn Féin pre-budget submission outlined several proposals on how to deal adequately with semi-state companies. We want to see NewERA replaced with a semi-state strategy group. The group would report directly to an Taoiseach and would be responsible for delivering a strategic job creation and training project. We believe that all annual dividends paid to the State by commercial semi-state companies should be reinvested into employment activation and training measures as identified by the semi-state strategy group and signed off by an Taoiseach. All salaries of chief executives of semi-state companies should be capped at €100,000, saving €3 million. The Fine Gael and Labour Party Government must take full responsibility for this sale of Bord Gáis Energy.

Since the Minister is in the House it would be remiss of me if I did not ask him to comment on the recent activities relating to the Corrib pipeline and the fact that the associated licence has been quashed. The local community has raised serious issues over the years on how some of those planning applications have been granted. We do not find the relevant detail in the judicial review challenge. When issuing the revised licence. the Environmental Protection Agency failed to carry out an environmental impact assessment in accordance with the requirements of various EU directives, including the habitats directive. Does the Minister have full confidence in the planning process in regard to the likes of the Corrib pipeline but also in regard to the planning of wind farms? I realise the environmental impact assessment issue has been raised with regard to the development of many wind farms throughout the State. Serious questions must be asked about the way the planning process has allowed these energy projects to go forward. I believe it is better to use the natural resources of the country for the good of all the people in the country and that they should be developed through the State arms.