Electricity Regulation (Climate Action and Connection to Distribution and Transmission Systems) Bill 2025: Second Stage [Private Members]
Dail Éireann — 2026-09-24
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Barry Heneghan (IND), Dublin Bay North

Good. I look forward to working with the Deputy on my Bill.
I like what the Deputy is trying to do with the Bill. What we really agree on and always will is that section 34 needs to amended. The CRU needs to be at the centre of this. As the Deputy and I know from our work on the climate and energy committee, there is a finger-pointing act going because no one wants to be responsible. Giving more powers to the CRU is something both our Bills are trying to do. I commend the Deputy on the fact that the principle is definitely right. I look forward to working with him in the coming term, including on the committee, to solve this problem. However, the way the Bill is currently formatted adds a hurdle and could add a problem. I understand that the Deputy is trying to make it so that large energy users should not be able to connect to the grid too easily, but it projects the weight onto all. With the new condition he has put in, the measures should and can be phased in after connection. However, the Bill does not say what happens if these are not met.
I agree with the Deputy that all LEUs need to cut their emissions. This is something we have to tackle. The different way I am approaching it is that under section 37, a direct line from a generator to a user is effectively blocked. As a result, my Bill would repeal the section and replace it with a clearer system similar to what an Teachta Ahern is doing here, all run by the CRU. I agree that the CRU must decide on an application quicker. I agree that the criteria for the decisions on connections must be objective and non-discriminatory. There can be no disproportionate costs for procedures. Something I would love to see and which the Deputy's Bill alludes to is that if there is another grid connection for an LEU, which could be a data centre, there should be a community benefit fund directly proportionate to the amount of energy the LEU is taking.
The CRU also has to be able to approve a whole class of direct lines, and that is where the private wires Bill I am trying to progress would come in. Smaller producers like schools, nursing homes and GAA clubs should be able to share energy more quickly when they are not using it. That is something I think the Minister of State would agree with. I ask him to take the principle of Deputy Ahern's Bill that LEUs should and need to meet their climate responsibilities. The different approach I am taking is one whereby we would give them easier tools to meet those responsibilities. Private wires and direct lines will help this, with clear rules that the CRU will impose and a direct community benefit fund that will be proportionate to the savings of a direct line. Then we will not need to force climate action at the connection point.
We will have made it the easiest option and the single sheriff in town - CRU - will dictate that, so I commend Deputy Ahern on his work and I look forward to working with him in the future.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-09-24/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-28T05:50:50+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-09-24