Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for having to leave. I had to do a radio interview.

I thank the delegates for coming. If they have answered the following questions already, I will read the replies in the Official Report. They may have already outlined the costs associated with the Celtic interconnector. Is there a precedent for having such interconnectors, for example, in Cyprus or Greece? Is there an interconnector with Italy and, if so, how much did it cost? What are the timelines for the provision of funding between the European Union and partner countries? In the example of Greece, if there is an interconnector with Italy, does it pass through a third party country and, if so, how does the process work? What support and recommendations are required because it is quite obvious the project needs to go ahead? We are all aware of what happened in the south east with the pylons campaign and that people do not realise Brexit will have an impact on the country's energy security. Is there a precedent? Is there a precedent in the case of non-EEA countries? Britain states it will not follow the Norwegian or Swiss model. What are the precedents for countries that are not part of that arrangement? What precedent can we use in the supply of energy to Northern Ireland and the supply of energy through Britain to here? Will the delegates supply that information to the Chairman because we are running out of time?

I have a question about the Shannon LNG project, the 500 MW power station and the 28.3 MMscm of energy it will provide daily. It has the potential to be a stopping off point for US gas imports which would then be transferred around Europe. After so many decades, are we nearer to it? Do we need it? How critical is it? Should we put it on the same pathway as the Celtic interconnector?