S.I. No. 545/2002 - Gas Act 1976 (Section 10A(1)(E)) (Annual Rate of Consumption) Regulations 2002

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Gas Act 1976 (Section 10A(1)(e) (Annual Rate of Consumption) Regulations 2002.

(2) These Regulations come into operation on 1 January 2003.

2. The rate of 500,000 standard cubic metres per annum is prescribed for the purposes of section 10A(1)(e) (inserted by

section 14

(1) of the

Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act 2002

(No. 10 of 2002)) of the

Gas Act 1976

(No. 30 of 1976) in lieu of the rate of 2,000,000 standard cubic metres per annum specified in that paragraph.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

22 November, 2002.

DERMOT AHERN, T.D.

Minister for Communications,

Marine and Natural Resources

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation)

This Order amends section 10A of the

Gas Act, 1976

, which was previously amended by

Section 14

of the

Gas (Interim)(Regulation) Act, 2002

. The amendment reduces the consumption threshold for third party access from 2,000,000 to 500,000 standard cubic metres per annum.

I, Dermot Ahern, T.D., Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by sections 4 and 10A(1)(e) (inserted by

section 14

(1) of the

Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act 2002

(No. 10 of 2002)) of the

Gas Act 1976

(No. 30 of 1976), and the Communications, Energy and Geological Survey of Ireland (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2002 (

S.I. No. 300 of 2002

(as adapted by the Marine and Natural Resources (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2002 (

S.I. No. 307 of 2002

)), hereby make the following regulations