Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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67. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment regarding the non-domestic gas works regulation, what engagement there has been between his Department and the CRU and other stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41387/24]

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Regarding non-domestic gas works regulation, what engagement has there been between the Department, the CRU and all the other stakeholders? This area has not been regulated fully and there are particular issues. Will the Minister ensure that they are addressed and we have a system that is fit for purpose?

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As the Deputy may be aware, under section 9F of the revised Electricity Regulation Act 1999, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities is responsible for the regulation of gas installers in terms of safety. The CRU will shortly seek to introduce a statutory instrument to regulate non-domestic gas works by expanding the scope of the registered gas installers, RGI, scheme. My Department has delegated to the CRU responsibility for carrying out the proportionality assessment for this proposed regulation, as required under SI 413 of 2022. My Department has been kept informed of the progress of the new regulation, but the CRU is statutorily independent in the performance of its functions and is accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas.

The CRU has advised the following in respect of its engagements on this matter. The CRU previously carried out a number of public consultations during the years 2014 to 2022 regarding non-domestic gas works. These consultations and decision papers are available on the CRU’s website, www.cru.ie. The CRU also engaged with key stakeholders through committees and bilateral meetings during those years. This engagement is ongoing, with the CRU due to commence a further public consultation on aspects of the expanded RGI scheme shortly, informed by recent feedback from industry. A decision paper on scheme rules and obligations and an updated criteria document will be published as part of the consultation.

The Deputy may wish to note that the CRU provides a dedicated email address for Oireachtas Members, which enables them to raise questions on regulatory matters with the CRU, at oireachtas@cru.ie for timely direct reply.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Deputy O’Rourke and I have had an engagement with the installers’ representative panel. The panel is reasonably happy that there has been some movement in the correct direction. Has the CRU sought specific legal advice to clarify that what has been introduced is legally binding and is there evidence of the CRU verifying the legal position should any accidents occur and the insurance implications of same?

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As with Deputy O’Rourke, I welcome the sort of feedback Deputy Ó Murchú is providing. We can be confident in some ways. In a sense, we regulated the domestic first and the lessons learned from that will help to ensure that any legal or other training issues are ironed out quickly, giving confidence to the commercial enterprises that are getting work done and to the industry that is carrying out that work.