Legislation Relevant To The Division

The Office of the Attorney General website contains a full and comprehensive directory of legislation, easily accessible by the year enacted.

Legislative Details.

This Act established Bord Gais Eireann and also detailed the following: -

• The function of the Board,
• Outgoings and return on capital,
• Directions as to profits,
• Annual Report guidelines, Accounts and Audits,
• Capital commitments and borrowings,
• Powers of Board in relation to the construction, maintenance and repair of pipelines,
• Acquisition orders and compensation.

These Acts amended Sections 23 and 25 of the Principal Act. The purpose was to confer an increase in the borrowing powers of the company, to allow BGE to operate and expand the natural gas network where it was economically viable to do so.

This Act conferred additional functions on the Board arising from the Alliance and Dublin Gas Acts 1866. Additionally this Act amended Sections 8, 18, 23 and the First Schedule of the Principal Act, and allowed the Board to operate in an extended list of geographical areas than before.

This Act primarily amended Section 8 of the Principal Act, and focussed in particular on the ability of the Minister to attach conditions, which must be adhered to, to pipeline construction approvals. Additionally, Sections 23 and 25 were once again amended to reflect the increased borrowing requirements of the company.

This Act had many functions, not all of which were directly related to natural gas. Primarily the Act extended the powers of BGE to effect certain commercial transactions and also further amended Section 8 of the Principal Act. For information on aspects of regulation and policy with regard to legislation, it may be helpful to visit the Commission for Energy Regulation site at http://www.cer.ie/ or the Electricity and Gas Regulatory Division.

The Gas (Amendment) Act 2000

This Act enabled third party access to the natural gas network. The borrowing limit of BGE was increased and the conferral of powers of compulsory acquisition, etc. under the Principal Act on certain persons.

The Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act 2001

This Act transfers some functions from the Minister to the Commission for Energy Regulation in relation to the regulation of the gas market.

The Sustainable Energy Act 2002.

This Act increased the borrowing limit of BGE.

The Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006.

This Act provides for the issue of capital stock in Bord Gáis Éireann by means of a technical amendment to the Gas Act 1976. The Act also facilitates full gas market opening, and, consequential to this, to provide for the designation of a supplier and shipper of last resort by the CER to supply natural gas to final customers in certain specified circumstances.