Vol. 514 No. 3
108 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if her attention has been drawn to the potential conflict of interest for employees of the ESB national grid business who have to serve the interests of the transmission system operator and the commercial interests of the ESB power generation business; and if she will seek legal advice in view of the dissatisfaction of the employees in this situation. [4385/00]
110 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will ensure that no ESB personnel have been or will be able to examine electricity power generating licence applications; and if this assurance will be given in relation to any person involved in the ESB Dublin Bay Power subsidiary. [4387/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 110 together.
No person in the ESB or in the ESB subsidiary Dublin Bay Power Limited will have access to applications by third parties for licences related to the generation or supply of electricity.
This is now a function of the Commission for Electricity Regulation under the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999.
Applications by prospective generators for connection to the transmission system must be made at present to the ESB national grid. I have sought and received confirmation from the chairman of ESB that the ESB national grid business unit operates as a separate entity within the ESB.
He has informed me that the national grid business unit has, for over five years now, operated at arms length from the rest of the ESB with respect to dealing with competitors.
The ESB national grid will shortly be designated as the transmission system operator and its structure will be subject to the approval of the Attorney General to ensure that it is established on a sound legal basis.
