Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when and the way in which he will be authorised to issue directions to the energy regulator on matters of energy and electricity policy. [8461/05]

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, solely on electricity trading arrangements.

As is common practice with other sectoral regulators, I am proposing, in line 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 currently being drafted by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. This Bill is scheduled for publication in the second quarter of 2005.