The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources has said the Government will consider selling or breaking up the ESB as part of a review of its energy policy.
Noel Dempsey told the Irish Times that the Government would undertake a fundamental review of its energy policy over the next six to nine months.
He said the 'full-scale' review of the energy market would seek to identify policies to ensure good value for money for consumers and the security of energy supplies into the future.
The Minister told the paper the review would investigate ESB's dominance in the electricity market, and look at a range of options on its future. These would range from selling the whole company through to a partial sale or the breaking up of the firm into smaller companies.
According to the Minister, who was speaking in Hong Kong, the review will also consider whether the Government should continue to support renewable energy projects with financial incentives and increase its 'green energy' targets.
