Vol. 476 No. 3
31 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the procedures, if any, being put in place to allow the ESB to tender for a proposed peat-fired power station while at the same time ensuring that the open tender process is seen to be fair and impartial to all others who submit tenders for this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6928/97]
As I indicated to the House on 12 February last, a consortium of independent consultants has been appointed with responsibility for the design and the running of the peat station competion. The appointment of the consultants was made in order to give assurance to prospective bidders that the competition would take place on a fair and impartial basis where, in addition to being the purchaser of electricity from the new station, the ESB would also be a bidder in the competition.
I am satisfied that these procedures are appropriate to ensure that the competition is seen to be conducted on a level playing field.
