asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he will have an examination made into the considerable extension of E.S.B. trading activities in the sale of equipment and appliances to domestic and other users with a view to ascertaining whether such trading is a departure from the objects for which the E.S.B. was originally formed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - E.S.B. Trading.
I would refer the Deputy to the provisions of Sections 29, 49 and 50 of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1927, which specifically refer to the matter mentioned. The trading activities of the E.S.B. in the sale of equipment and appliances to domestic and other users have been undertaken by the board under these statutory powers and, accordingly, such trading is not a departure from the objects for which the board was originally formed. In the circumstances, the first part of the Deputy's question does not arise.
Is the Minister aware that there is uneasiness amongst small dealers and contractors because of the growing encroachment on their livelihood by the E.S.B. and, if I supply a dossier of their complaints, will the Tánaiste have it examined?
I will be glad to examine anything which the Deputy thinks it is reasonable to send to me, but I should point out to him that the Oireachtas enacted legislation in 1927 to permit the E.S.B. to undertake this sales work, and it has been doing that kind of work since 1927. It has also gone into the hire-purchase business and I understand that the E.S.B. have made an agreement with the Society of Electrical Traders on that lastmentioned subject.