Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy is leaping forward somewhat. Wanting to protect the single electricity market, North and South, does not mean we do not wish to rapidly proceed with a Celtic interconnector, as referenced by Deputy Dooley. Later this year we will make a joint application with France for EU support for that project. Maintaining the benefits of the single electricity market on the island of Ireland is not mutually exclusive from developing full integration into a wider European market. Although the withdrawal of the UK is, of course, changing the situation on the east-west interconnector, we are alert to the point made by the Deputy. We wish to maximise the benefits of EU membership without undermining the obvious benefits of being on an island and having an interconnected electricity system that has conferred significant benefits.