15 Márta 2012, 18:46
The Joint Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture today received a detailed briefing from representatives of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). As the regulator for the electricity and natural gas sectors in Ireland, the CER discussed its increased responsibilities in regulating petroleum safety onshore and offshore.
Addressing the Committee were CER Chair Dermot Nolan, Commissioner Garrett Blaney and Dr Paul McGann, their Director of Safety and Consumer Affairs.
Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee Andrew Doyle TD said: “The Committee thanks the CER representatives for a detailed briefing on their increased role in petroleum safety. With today’s news of an oil strike off the Cork coast, today’s meeting heard the representatives explain that international best practice will be applied in regulating petroleum exploration, as their Petroleum Safety Framework is finalised.
\"As well as offshore exploration, the CER will have responsibility for ensuring the safety of a potential onshore hydraulic fracturing industry, which is a source of heightened public concern. While the CER’s role concerns safety with no statutory authority to permit or ban ‘fracking’, the issue will no doubt be a source of ongoing engagement between the Committee and the Commission in the coming years.
\"The Committee are encouraged that CER intend to facilitate more renewable generation capacity, including the associated network development costs, at the least cost to the end consumer.
\"Other issues raised at the meeting include CER responsibilities around consumer protection in the gas and electricity retail market, their work on regulating the key electricity interconnector between Ireland and Wales and their evaluation of a smart metering roll-out to homes and business.\"
Ends
For further information contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 6949926
F: +3531 618 4551
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie
Committee Membership
Deputies
Tom Barry, Fine Gael
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Fein
Pat Deering, Fine Gael
Andrew Doyle, Fine Gael
Martin Ferris, Sinn Fein
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Martin Heydon, Fine Gael
Colm Keaveney, Labour Party
Mattie McGrath, Independent
Michael McNamara, Labour Party
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fail
Éamon Ó Cuív, Fianna Fail
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael
Ann Phelan, Labour Party
Thomas Pringle, Independent
Senators
Michael Comiskey
Paschal Mooney
Pat O’Neill
Mary Ann O’Brien
Brian Ó Domhnaill
John Whelan