Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 21: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the other legislation which is planned, or in draft stage, in relation to the ESB and the electricity sector with reference to both the electricity Bill and the single electricity market Bill; when the electricity Bill will return to the Dáil Éireann legislative programme; if the delay in bringing forward the electricity Bill will have implications for commercial and strategic decision making at the ESB; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13633/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The draft heads of the electricity Bill to provide for the conversion for ESB to a public limited company status are being progressed and the timeframe for its reinstatement on the Government's legislative programme will be kept under review during the year. The Minister does not consider that the revised timetable for the Bill has implications for commercial or strategic decision-making by ESB.

The key deliverable within the all-island energy market framework is to have an all-island wholesale electricity market in place by 1 July 2007. A critical immediate priority, therefore, for both Governments is to ensure that an appropriate legislative framework is in place to underpin this market. This necessitates the enactment of parallel legislation in both jurisdictions.

The draft scheme of the single wholesale electricity market Bill is currently being developed by the Department in consultation with Northern colleagues, the CER and the Office of the Attorney General. The Minister, Deputy Dempsey, expects to be in a position to seek Government approval for detailed priority drafting by the end of April. The delivery of such parallel legislation by the July 2007 deadline represents a very challenging timeframe for all concerned. The relevant officials are working intensively with their Northern colleagues and the two regulatory authorities to ensure that this target is met.