Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Barrett made the point that the 1933 Act could not have foreseen many of these matters. I also made that point.

We have provision approved for between 1,100 and 1,700 megawatts, with less than 2% built. We need to look very carefully at the reasons. Deputy Barrett is right about one of the reasons being interconnectivity but there are others. At some point it might be useful for the joint committee to consider making a presentation to the interdepartmental marine co-ordination group if its Chairman was interested in doing that.

I can assure the Deputy and the House there is constant consultation under way at present with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources regarding any projects that contain an energy element. Concerning this Bill, the process is to transfer responsibility to two Departments and the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA. That is all that is envisaged at this stage.

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