20 Nov 2012, 18:11
The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications will tomorrow meet with representatives from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and the Commission for Energy Regulation for a detailed discussion on developments in sustainable energy.
20 November 2012
At the meeting, the committee will consider the impact of renewable energy and rising oil and gas prices on the cost of electricity to consumers.
The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is the independent body responsible for overseeing the liberalisation of Ireland's energy sector. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) was established as Ireland's national energy authority under the Sustainable Energy Act 2002 and plays a leading role in transforming Ireland into a society based on sustainable energy structures, technologies and practices.
Chairman of the Committee Tom Hayes TD says: “Our Committee has an important role in the oversight of state bodies and tomorrow’s meeting is an opportunity to question representatives from the CER and SEAI on their respective roles in fostering sustainable energy. Ireland is committed to achieving the binding EU 2020 target of 16 percent of all energy coming from renewables, while the government has set a 40 percent renewable electricity target for 2020. The Committee meeting tomorrow will also consider the rising cost of energy. As families and businesses are increasingly dealing with higher electricity costs, the Committee wishes to explore the reasons behind the rising cost of energy and to what extent renewables are a factor.”
The meeting takes place tomorrow Wednesday 21 November at 9:30 am in Committee Room 4, Leinster House 2000.
Committee proceedings can be viewed online via this link.
For further information contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +353 1 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Féin
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Tom Fleming, Independent
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Tom Hayes, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Colm Keaveney, Labour
Seán Kenny, Labour
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fáil
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Ann Phelan, Labour
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Senators
Terry Brennan
Sean D. Barrett
Eamonn Coghlan
Paschal Mooney
Ned O’Sullivan
John Whelan