Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

629. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the role of his Department regarding bodies operating under the aegis of his Department, including oversight functions; his role with regard to the Commission for Energy Regulation to ensure that all statutory obligations are being complied with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19653/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Departmental remit includes complex policy areas and oversight of State regulation and provision of key strategic services such as energy and public broadcasting.

There are six Commercial State Bodies, seven Non-Commercial State Bodies and three Regulators under the aegis of my Department.

My Department currently oversees the governance of all of these State Bodies to ensure they are  fully compliant with the  Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and  the governance functions included in the statutory framework underpinning individual bodies.  My Department ensures that compliance obligations, reporting procedures and assurance arrangements are all adhered to. In order to enhance oversight of the bodies under the remit of my Department and bring a more coherent approach to governance activity, the corporate governance function for all of the commercial state bodies and some of the non -commercial bodies has been centralised in the Department.

The Department is supported by NewEra in exercising corporate governance functions in respect of the bodies designated under the National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act, 2014.

All of the regulators have been established on a statutory basis and are independent in the exercise of their respective functions, including functions that are necessary to ensure compliance with EU directives.

The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is Ireland’s independent energy regulator. The CER was established in 1999 and has a range of economic, customer protection and safety responsibilities in the energy sector. The CER is also Ireland’s economic regulator of the public water and wastewater sector.

The CER was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent legislation. Its regulation of the gas market is legally underpinned by the Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act, 2002, as amended. The CER regulates water services under the Water Services Act 2013 and the Water Services Act 2014.

The Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 provides for CER’s regulatory independence and accountability for the performance of its functions to a Joint Committee of the Oireachtas.