Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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786. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has examined the report on the regulation and inspection of gas installers operating here, which was compiled by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29943/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 confers on the CER specific functions in the area of safety regulation of the natural gas industry. The legislation provides for natural gas installers to be registered as a Registered Gas Installer (RGI). It is a legal requirement that any gas works carried out on domestic gas installations may be carried out only by a Registered Gas Installer. The CER discharges its gas safety responsibility through the implementation of a Natural Gas Safety Regulatory Framework. The Framework has been in operation for five years. Since 2009, it has included a system for the regulation, certification, ongoing inspection of work and investigation of complaints regarding the competence of any particular natural gas installer. Under Section 9(f) of the Electric Regulation Act 1999 as amended by the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions), CER has the power to prosecute unregistered gas installers through the court system. The CER has attained a number of successful prosecutions to date in cases where unregistered installers have completed domestic gas works.

Nevertheless, I note that the Report of the Joint Committee recommends that certain legislative measures be considered. My Department, in consultation with the CER, will examine the Committee's recommendations and will respond to the Committee in due course on the findings reached.