Higgins critical of gas deregulation

Deregulation is "limping along" in Irish markets, Fine Gael has claimed in a debate on the Interim Gas Regulation Bill.

The deregulation experience in the telecommunications sector had resulted in "exorbitant" prices, according to the party's Public Enterprise spokesman, Mr Jim Higgins, and he believed the gas sector would replicate the bad experience of the electricity and telecommunications sector.

Labour's Public Enterprise spokesman, Mr Emmet Stagg, rejected the Bill and criticised the Government for only introducing only an interim measure.

The bill creates a framework for the independent regulation of the electricity and gas sectors. The Minister of State for Public Enterprise, Mr Joe Jacob, said detailed costings would be obtained for extending the Corrib gas network to Sligo via Ballina from the Mayo-Galway pipeline and to Letterkenny from the proposed Belfast- to-Derry pipeline.