Tom Enright
Question:45 Mr. Enright asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if her attention has been drawn to the decision by the ESB to shed 2000 jobs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3771/01]
Written Answers. - Job Losses.
In preparation for full competition, the ESB has been in detailed negotiation with its unions on a further major round of change in the company. In that context, the company last year presented me with proposals for a new voluntary severance scheme designed to achieve a further 2,000 voluntary staff exits over the next three years and I gave approval for that package on 3 November 2000.
The new ESB voluntary redundancy scheme is similar to that which was available previously to ESB staff under the cost and competitiveness review, CCR. The package was and remains the most generous in the public sector.
The new round of change in the ESB and the associated voluntary severance package derive from the tripartite agreement between my Department and ESB management and unions, published on 17 February 2000, which sets out a new milestone framework for the future electricity industry in Ireland. That agreement provides for the progressive opening of the electricity market to full competition from 2005. The tripartite agreement correctly anticipates the further proposals which were recently signalled by the European Commission for the full opening of the EU gas and electricity markets by 2005.