Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

In what year did the Department receive the proposal or begin consideration of the proposal for the new east-west interconnector? If we believe we will need a further interconnector with the UK or mainland Europe, why must we wait until 2010 before beginning planning for it? With regard to the Minister's Welsh counterpart, how do we know the system operator in the UK will allow us to have easy and full access to that system? If the UK system is under pressure at a particular time, do we know we will be given access to 500 MW from it? What reinforcements are necessary on the Welsh side to provide the proper infrastructure transmission network for this interconnector? Has the Minister obtained agreement from the British Government with regard to that investment or must we invest directly in some of the grid reinforcement that might have to occur in the UK?

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