Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Specifically on those questions, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, presented a list of risk factors, which I read them out. It also presented a prescription for a number of actions should be taken to mitigate this. It said that the risk of power outage is real but, with these mitigation measures, the cause for concern is far less. That is basically its option.

The public service obligation, PSO, levy is a compensating dampening factor. When gas prices or electricity prices rise, the PSO levy comes down, and vice versa. It should, therefore, have the effect of stabilising prices.

I thank the Senator for all of that and want to say that the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications is supporting the CRU and EirGrid as they progress the actions necessary to ensure the continued secure supply of electricity. I understand this is a critical matter for the Government. Nobody wants to see power outages. All of the required mitigating measures will be taken. This is being treated with the utmost seriousness. There is a detailed plan and many actions are being taken to prevent this from happening.