118. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment when he intends to introduce the private wires bill. [47061/26]

Introducing a private wires regime is a priority for this Government. My Department has been engaging with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel to draft the necessary legislation required to bring forward the private wire’s regime.

The Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy have undertaken pre-legislative scrutiny on the General Scheme of the Private Wires Bill, with a report published at the end of April. This is currently under review in my Department.

It is my intention that the Bill will have completed its passage through the Oireachtas as early as possible this year.