Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 89: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the lessons which can be learned from the most recent power blackout throughout Europe; the steps that can be taken to prevent such an occurrence here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38768/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Security of supply in relation to electricity in Ireland is the statutory responsibility of the independent Regulator, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The independent Transmission System Operator (TSO), EirGrid, monitors the adequacy of generation capacity over time and reports to the CER accordingly.

I am advised by the CER that the Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER), of which CER is a member, is currently undertaking an urgent enquiry on the blackout which occurred across central Europe on Saturday 4 November. The aim of this enquiry is to provide some preliminary advice before the end of the year and a full report on the event not later than February 2007.

While the outcome of this inquiry is awaited, the CER understands from initial information available from the German federal grid regulator that the blackout may be attributable to simple human error.

The CER advise me that a similar situation is unlikely to occur in Ireland as we operate a closed Island Grid system at this point. The CER has also ensured significant levels of investment in the Irish transmission system in recent years with plans for continued investment to the end of this decade. Between 2002 and 2010, almost €1 billion will be invested in the Irish transmission system, which will ensure, to the greatest extent possible, that the system is capable of handling exceptional circumstances.

The key lesson nevertheless which can be learned from this blackout occurrence is that no electricity power system can be fully protected from such events and that fast, effective and specific emergency measures must be in place to deal with such incidents.

In any emergency situation in Ireland, the TSO, as part of its licence conditions, has in place a number of specific Emergency Plans to deal with an incident quickly and effectively. Implementation of the plans is at the discretion and under the control of the TSO.