Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 83: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when he will be able to give policy directions to the energy regulator; and the statutory changes which are required to make this possible. [3678/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Currently, I have certain limited statutory powers to give directions to the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, about electricity trading arrangements solely. In the interests of the proper and effective regulation of the electricity and gas markets, I am proposing, in line with other regulated sectors and with Government approval, to take powers to issue policy directions of a general nature to the CER. Such a provision is included in the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill which is being drafted by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. This Bill is scheduled for publication in the second quarter of 2005.