Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive opening statement, in which he outlined the reasons for this important emergency legislation.

It is important to realise, as he said, that the provisions of the Bill relate to two sites, Shannonbridge and Tarbert. These provisions will ensure we have enough electricity capacity not so much for this winter but for next winter. There was a time everybody’s house did not have electricity years ago, but we now depend on it for everything, such as charging our phones, working from home, broadband connections and so on. Not having enough electricity and outages are concepts that people fear. It is important that the legislation is being brought forward and that these measures will be introduced.

As the Minister of State said, it is because of the non-delivery of previously contracted supply capacity that the Government is now asking for the power to make sure we have enough electricity. I am more than happy, on my own behalf and on behalf of my party, Fianna Fáil, to support the Bill, as I hope all Senators will. I do not need to delay this process. I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for being here. The sooner we get this Bill over the line, the sooner we can have security of supply for next winter.