ESB not to be broken up – Rabitte

The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte has said he is not in favour of breaking up the ESB. Mr Rabbitte said he didn’t believe it would be in the best interests of the country to sell off the ESB, despite the retail arm of Bord Gais being for sale for an estimated €1bn.

“I’m also content enough to see some power generation disposed of by the ESB, but I do not want to see the ESB broken up. It’s an exceptionally pivotal company,” he said.

Speaking at an event in Dublin this morning, he said even though the retail arm of Bord Gais has been put up for sale, the same thing should not happen to the ESB.

Mr Rabbitte said: “Breaking up the ESB would not be the way forward.

“The ESB is a hugely important, indigineous, Irish multi-national and people probably don’t have sufficient regard for it, or take energy security for granted, and we can’t do that.

“We have to invest in the networks and build out of the networks.”