Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the main features of the regulations signed by him in advance of the opening of the full electricity market on 19 February 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8214/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity) Regulations 2005, SI No. 60 of 2005, referred to by the Deputy give further legal effect to Directive No. 2003/54/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 26 June 2003 on common rules for the internal market in electricity. The directive repealed Directive 96/92/EC. The new regulations build on the regulatory framework for the electricity industry put in place in Ireland in the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 and the European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity) Regulations 2000.

The regulations provide, inter alia, for the strengthening of independent regulation, better levels of consumer protection, the licensing of a public electricity supplier, the designation of a supplier of last resort, the enhancement of security of supply provisions and other relevant matters. A comprehensive note detailing the individual provisions of the regulations is available on the Department's website at www.dcmnr.gov.ie.