Vol. 536 No. 1
35 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the costs of the study by a company (details supplied) into the energy sector entitled Energy, Security and the Information Society; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11405/01]
38 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she has received the Energy, Security and the Information Society report commissioned from a company (details supplied) and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11308/01]
42 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she has received the Energy, Security and the Information Society report which was commissioned from a company (details supplied) by the Department of the Taoiseach, her Department and Forfás; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11406/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 35, 38 and 42 together.
I have received the report referred to. The objective in commissioning this report was to quantify and assess the impact of investment in co-location, complex web hosting, web farming, advanced data processing, and similar e-commerce related facilities on the energy demand and supply situation in Ireland. The report was to also to advise on the appropriate investment, regulatory and legislative measures needed to ensure that Ireland remained competitive in attracting and retaining this type of investment.
My Department, Forfás and the Taoiseach's Department recruited the consultants in September 2000, following a competitive tender process to commission a report regarding the impact of energy security issues on the delivery of the information society in Ireland. This bid was the most economically advantageous and cost £54,877. It was finalised at the end of January and its recommendations studied. The report recommended, inter alia, a full deregulation of the CHP market. I have implemented this recommendation through section 9(f2>a)(ii) of the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Act, 2001.
The report has been circulated to all the relevant Departments and the Commission for Electricity Regulation and has been published on my Department's website, www.dpe.ie. It represents a useful additional contribution to evolving policy development in the areas of energy provision and telecommunications.
Questions Nos. 36, 37 and 39 answered with Question No. 11.
