Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 14 February 2017

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Effect of proposed withdrawal of the UK from the EU on the Irish Energy Market: Discussion.

5:00 pm

Mr. Michael Goodwin:

Not really, no. In regard to the gas security supply regulation, that is being negotiated and finalised in Brussels at present. The key measure in the new regulation is about solidarity but, as the Deputy says, in the context of Brexit that raises an issue. We still will be physically connected with the UK but the UK, as Mr. Brady stated, will not come under the requirements of the regulations. One of our key issues on Brexit is that the status quowould remain if possible. As Mr. Brady also stated, there are intergovernmental agreements in place that existed prior to the gas security of supply regulation which we would look to expand in the event that the UK was not under the aegis of the regulation.