I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 110 together.
No person in the ESB or in the ESB subsidiary Dublin Bay Power Limited will have access to applications by third parties for licences related to the generation or supply of electricity.
This is now a function of the Commission for Electricity Regulation under the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999.
Applications by prospective generators for connection to the transmission system must be made at present to the ESB national grid. I have sought and received confirmation from the chairman of ESB that the ESB national grid business unit operates as a separate entity within the ESB.
He has informed me that the national grid business unit has, for over five years now, operated at arms length from the rest of the ESB with respect to dealing with competitors.
The ESB national grid will shortly be designated as the transmission system operator and its structure will be subject to the approval of the Attorney General to ensure that it is established on a sound legal basis.