Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 9 Jun 1993

Vol. 432 No. 1

Written Answers. - Culliton Report.

John Bruton

Question:

193 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if he has any proposals to introduce legislation to deal with any aspect of the Government decisions on the Culliton report; and if so, if he will give details of the proposed legislation.

Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications (Mr. Cowen)

The position in regard to legislative proposals for implementation of the Government decisions on the recommendations of the Moriarty task force concerning the implementation of the Culliton report in respect of my area of responsibility is as follows.

Proposed legislative measures in the form of Statutory Instruments under the Air Navigation and Transport Act, 1965, are at present being prepared in my Department for the purpose of transposing into Irish law EC Regulations concerning the single market in air transport for passengers and freight which came into effect on 1 January 1993.

In regard to the Government decision that competitive forces should operate efficiently to ensure that markets for goods and services function in the most effective way, it is intended to bring forward, as soon as possible, for consideration by the Government draft proposals to replace the Road Transport Act, 1932, with new provisions which would cater more effectively for the development of the bus industry and the needs of the travelling public.

In relation to the Government decision on competition in the energy sector the Government has approved proposals for a major restructuring of the ESB to promote greater cost transparency and efficiency within the industry. These proposals include the reorganisation of the ESB into five business units; the establishment of a central power purchasing function within the ESB; an end to ESB's monopoly on the sale of electricity and the introduction of a new regulatory framework. It is proposed to prepare legislation to give effect to these changes.

The general scheme of the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, 1992, was approved by Government on 13 October 1992 and the Bill is currently being drafted. The Bill will include a provision to allow the Minister to give general directives to Bord Gáis Éireann as to the carriage of gas through its pipelines for others.