Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the implications for Irish Water of any sale or part sale of Bord Gáis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53272/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Government has decided to dispose of Bord Gáis Éireann’s Energy business as part of the State Assets disposal programme. The Government has also reiterated its commitment to retaining the gas networks as well as the two gas interconnectors in State ownership as national strategic infrastructure, critical for the delivery of secure, sustainable and competitive energy supplies. BGÉ is a strong and dynamic State company. The success of Bord Gáis Energy demonstrates BGÉ’s capacity to develop new and efficient businesses for the benefit of Irish consumers as well as the State as shareholder.

The decision to establish Irish Water within the BGÉ Group reflects the Government’s confidence in BGÉ. BGÉ’s experience in the key areas of raising finance, operating and investing in critical network infrastructure and delivering excellent customer service, will be effectively deployed in the successful establishment and operation of Irish Water.

My colleague, the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, has advised that the implementation strategy for Irish Water is being advanced by his Department, in collaboration with BGÉ, all relevant Departments, including my Department, as well as the local authorities, and with the advice of NewERA.

In parallel, significant progress has been made in implementing the asset disposal programme, in line with our commitments under the EU/ECB/IMF Funding Programme. Tender processes for the appointment of advisors to oversee the sale of Bord Gáis Energy are significantly advanced.

NewERA is the agency with responsibility for oversight of the sale transaction on behalf of the Government. My Department is also progressing priority actions to address necessary legislative, regulatory, and financial issues with a view to commencing the disposal process in 2013.

The Departments, NewERA and BGÉ are fully cognisant of the need to ensure that the work on the sale of Bord Gáis Energy and the establishment of the Water utility are progressed concurrently and to schedule. The Government will be briefed on a regular basis in relation to progress on both fronts.

I am confident that BGÉ will rise to the challenge to sustain its oversight and operation of the strategic State owned gas infrastructure as well as working with the Government on the successful sale of Bord Gáis Energy and the establishment of Irish Water to schedule.