The Clerk has circulated the draft report. Is the report agreed? Agreed.
Business of Select Committee.
A few minutes ago there was a newsflash that there would be an ESB strike next Monday. A total of 2,300 workers from ESBOA intend to go on strike. Is this a matter on which the committee should take a view? I know this is an industrial relations issue, but part of the background is the fact that after two years in this committee we have still seen no sign of a major electricity Bill, although a minor Bill is to be dealt with tomorrow.
Prices are rising and there are problems with how the workforce sees the future. Some people are fearful that the company will be privatised and cannot see any way forward in its current guise. We know from discussions we have held here, including our last discussion with Eirgrid, that the market does not seem to be working. Certainly, we are not seeing the lower prices we expected and there does not seem to be much security.
Could the committee keep a watching brief on this crisis? It is an industrial relations matter but it might be useful for the committee to watch it over the next few weeks, before the August holidays, and to have a discussion about electricity. While we cannot play any part in this, and like the Chairman I have every confidence in Mr. Begg's ability to address it, the workforce does not know what is being set out for the future. Workers in other industries, such as transport, know what is happening. The uncertainty of people in the electricity industry has caused this problem.
It is a valid suggestion and I propose that we ask the clerk to get the relevant information and report to circulate to the members at the meeting of the joint committee next week and take it from there.
The select committee adjourned at 3.50 p.m. sine die.