The SEAI
SEAI
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland Act 2002 provided for the establishment of the Irish Energy Centre on a statutory basis, with a new title, the ‘‘Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’’, under the auspices of the Minister for Public Enterprise. The Irish Energy Centre was originally established by a Memorandum of Understanding in 1994 between the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications and the Chief Executive of Forfas, (now Enterprise Ireland).
The Authority’s main function is to promote and assist environmentally and economically sustainable energy production, supply, and use in all sectors of the economy, promote energy efficiency and renewable energy, and minimise the environmental impact relating to these activities. In addition, it provides advice on matters relating to its functions to the Minister and other Ministers.
Functions
The Authority is given powers to carry out certain actions in pursuance of its functions. The functions are primarily based on those outlined in the ‘‘Green Paper on Sustainable Energy,’’ which was published by the Department of Public Enterprise in 1999.
The Act allows for the assignment of additional functions, which must be related to the production, supply, and use of energy, to the Authority by means of Statutory Regulations.
Operation
There is provision for the appointment, term of office etc. of the members of the Board. Provisions allow for regular annual turnover of the membership of the Board.
The Minister may from time to time, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, advance money provided by the Oireachtas for the performance of the functions of the Authority. The Government has decided that the National Development Plan 2000-2006 will include provisions for the Authority’s activities and certain programmes and measures, which will assist Ireland in complying with the Kyoto Protocol.
The Authority has a major role to play in implementing the National Climate Change Strategy, the Green Paper on Sustainable Energy and the National Development Plan. A provision was made for the following programmes:
- Research and Development
- Built Environment
- Renewable Energy/Combined Heat & Power/Grid
The funding allocated to strengthened activities of the Authority provides for the necessary increases in staffing (from a current 20 to 50 over the next 12 to 18 months) and day to day activities of the Authority up to 2006.
Minister
The Authority must prepare and submit to the Minister an Annual report of its activities after the end of each financial year. The Minister must also approve the form in which the Authority keeps its accounts.
The Authority may give information to the Minister in relation to the performance of its functions and for the submission of a draft Work Programme for the coming years not less that three months before end of the previous year. The Authority may appear before a Committee of one or both Houses of the Oireachtas when requested to do so.
The Minister may give directions to the Centre in relation to policy matters. Directions given under this section must be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.
Finance
The Authority may charge fees for work undertaken.
The Authority has power to accept subscriptions and donations, to engage consultants and advisers and to enter into contracts with outside contractors to perform such of its functions, as it deems necessary.