Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I should declare that I worked with Mr. Tuohy when he was Secretary General when I became Minister. I hope he will not mind me reminding him that on my first day in office he handed me a box set of "Yes Minister" and recommended I watch it, which was very good advice. I feel like giving him a box set of "The Sopranos" or "Game of Thrones". I am not too sure which, because he is going into a critical and important job.

Almost ten years ago we started thinking about the French interconnector and it has taken ten years to get the contract. I am really pleased it is going ahead. I guess it will be another five years before it is built. I will return to the question raised by the Chairman and by Deputy Dooley. I think we need to start working now on our method of being part of the bigger, wider European grid network to ship power from the west of Ireland, not just within the country but to the rest of Europe. That will require EirGrid to commission, build and own several new interconnectors with our nearest neighbours. Does EirGrid have the resources to be able to take on that project now so that we are ready in ten, 12 or 15 years' time to turn it into reality, having developed the Irish Sea and learned from that experience?