ESB Group is enormously profitable. It receives significant funding from the taxpayer by way of the public service obligation levy. Yesterday, the CEO of the ESB stated that the cost of repairing damage to the network caused by the recent storm would be borne by customers in their bills. We have previously discussed the hardship that has been wrought by the storm, where so many of the ESB's customers went without power for weeks. Indeed, some 17,000 remain without power. Remember that over the past four years, ESB customers have been squeezed by rip-off prices, paying among the most expensive rates in the European Union.

Now the ESB, which is sitting on vast profits, tells customers that they will foot the repair bill. What does the Taoiseach propose to do about this? It is very clear that there must be an intervention. People already pay too much.

The more fundamental reform that is required is to the ratio of costs or the manner in which they are dealt with under our regulatory framework, the role of the CRU and so forth. In our view, that must be reformed. There is no question but that repairs will be necessary. We will then look at how those costs can be apportioned. A more fundamental point is that we are going to need very significant investment in the grid. I gave the Deputy a figure of €5 billion for the five years to 2025. It is estimated that what will be needed from 2025 to 2030 will be of the magnitude of €13 billion. We will examine the degree to which the Exchequer can take some of the burden of that cost. That will have to happen. We need to reform the regulatory framework that is in place. We will gladly take any ideas on that. We have our own ideas. They are in the programme for Government.