Staff Profiles

The Commission is headed by up to three Commissioners at any one time.

At present the three Commissioners are Michael G. Tutty, Dermot Nolan and Garrett Blaney, who have agreed certain lead responsibilities between them.

There are four divisional Directors, each heading the CER’s functional divisions.

The responsibilities of the Commissioners and divisional Directors are shown below.

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Michael G. Tutty, Chairman: Michael G. Tutty has been a member of the Commission since October 2004 and Chairman of the Commission since June 2009.
Michael's lead responsibilities within he Commission relate to the regulation of electricity network infrastructure including the forthcoming east-west interconnector, environmental policy including wind and renewable generation and research and development. Another key area of Michael's responsibility is in energy customer care matters. He is also the Commission's main representative on the European Energy Regulatory Agencies - the Council for European Energy Regulators (CEER), the European Regulators' Group for Electricity and Gas (ERGEG) and the new Agency for Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER).
In addition the operational support sections of the organisation are a primary responsibility of the Chairman.
Dermot Nolan, Commissioner: Dermot Nolan has been a member of the Commission since July 2008.
Dermot's lead responsibilities within the Commission include the regulation of retail gas and electricity, the Single Electricity Market (SEM) and the Commission's Smart Metering project. He is also responsible for the CER's strategic and business planning and chairs the organisation's Audit Committee.
Garrett Blaney, Commissioner: Garrett Blaney has been a member of the Commission since February 2010.
Garrett's lead responsibilities within the Commission relate to the regulation of gas and electricity safety, gas networks/LNG and gas markets including the Common Arrangements for Gas (CAG) project, fuel disclosure and the Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy. In addition he has responsibility for gas and electricity security of supply issues and for "conventional" electricity generation.
Eugene Coughlan, Director of Operations and Electricity Markets: Eugene Coughlan is the Director of the CER's Operations and Electricity Markets divisions.
The Electricity Markets division is responsible for overseeing the wholesale all-island electricity market (SEM) in cooperation with the Northern Ireland Regulator (NIAUR). The division also monitors security of supply and generation adequacy in Ireland, and is responsible for authorising and licensing the construction and operation of new "conventional" generation stations.
Eugene is Deputy Commissioner and also heads up the CER’s Operations division which includes the Business Information Centre (BIC), Human Resources (HR), Finance, IT and Facilities Management.
Denis Cagney, Director of Gas, Legal and Renewables: Denis Cagney is the Director of the CER’s Gas, Legal and Renewables division.
In relation to gas, this division regulates the natural gas network infrastructure in Ireland, oversees the retail gas market and approves charges by Bord Gais Energy Supply for natural gas supply. It is currently working with NIAUR on the design and development of a possible all-island gas market through the Common Arrangements for GAS (CAG) project.
On renewable matters the division is responsible for advising the Commission in relation to renewable energy and the enviroment including the treatment of renewable generation in the SEM, licensing renewable generators and determining the Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy. Finally, the division also has a general role in advising the organisation on all legal matters.
Cathy Mannion, Director of Electricity Networks and Retail: Cathy Mannion is the Director of the CER's Electricity Networks and Retail division.
This division oversees the economic regulation and development of the electricity networks (transmission and distribution) in Ireland as well as approving charges for access to the networks and resolving disputes in the area of network connections. The division is also responsible for developing policy in relation to network connection, with increased emphasis on connection of renewable generators.
Cathy's division also licences electricity suppliers, regulates the end user prices charged by the public electricity supplier (ESB PES) to end customers and runs the Smart Metering Project.
Paul McGowan, Director of Safety and Customer Affairs: Paul McGowan is Director of the CER's Safety division and Director with responsibility for Customer Affairs.
The Safety Division is responsible for implementation of the gas safety framework and statutory electricity safety functions. These include the safety regulation of gas supply, transmission, distribution, storage and use of gas and the registration of electrical contactors and gas installers by bodies designated for this purpose by the CER. Furthermore, the division will shortly commence a new role in relation to the safety of upstream petroleum activities, as envisaged in the Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Bill, 2010.
On customer affairs, Paul's division operates the Commission's statutory complaints resolution function and information service for energy (electricity and gas) customers.