Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 January 2021
33. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consult his ministerial colleagues, given the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and consider the introduction of legislation to amend electricity standing charges to support businesses, particularly those in the hospitality sector that are currently closed or operating at a very low level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2948/21]
View answerThe Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications have advised that the electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within a European Union regulatory regime, wherein electricity and gas markets are commercial, liberalised, and competitive. Operating within this overall EU framework, responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets, including the matters raised by the Deputy, is solely a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), which was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity and gas markets following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act (ERA), 1999.
The CRU is an independent statutory Regulator and is accountable for the performance of its functions to the Oireachtas, and not to me as Minister or Government.
The Deputy may wish to note that the CRU provides a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members, which enables them raise questions on energy regulatory matters to the CRU at oireachtas@cru.ie for timely direct reply.
