Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The White Paper is at a high level of policy. The questions of the specifics of feed-in tariffs, in whatever area, are for consultation and decision. For example, the REFIT scheme on which we are consulting at present will be dealt with in the course of 2016. It will not be dealt with in the White Paper. It cannot be because there are all sorts of rules relating to state aids and consultations that must be gone through. It is the same case with the renewable heat incentive. The renewable heat incentive will be brought forward in 2016 but will require state aid approval. It will have to go through the hoops that all of these state inventions must go through.

The White Paper will contain a fair amount of detail relating to the policy orientation of this Government in respect of the transition to a carbon free Ireland but one will not see each and every one of the specifics signed off in a White Paper. One could not do that. It is a high level policy document in that regard. It will give us the basis and opportunity to take forward the absolutely essential project of decarbonising our economy and society.

I do not believe decisions on the north-south interconnector will be made on grounds other than the requirement for that interconnector, which is real, urgent and extremely important. I do not believe that it will be rushed or that some elements of decisions there will be made on the wrong basis. I do not foresee that happening and there is no evidence that it will happen. There is a real and demonstrable need for the north-south interconnector. There is an economic case for it, not just for this jurisdiction but also for the northern part of this country and for the all-island economy, which the Deputy will support and will wish to see advanced. It is an absolutely critical piece of infrastructure we need-----