Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I am glad Deputy McManus raised this issue. I am of the view that goodwill and co-ordination at a political level are important because a consensus does not exist in certain other quarters. In my opinion, the ESRI's report does not take account of the long-term opportunity that exists. That body did not consider this industry as an exporting one. It may have examined this matter on a purely domestic basis and failed to see the bigger picture in the context of what is happening. If we followed such advice, we would miss the opportunity that exists. It is for this reason we must provide a strong signal to the effect that this is the course we will take.

I referred to a long-term approach but I also believe this matter to be of immediate importance. The issue of whether the European Union should develop these grids will be one of the items on the agenda for the Heads of Government meeting to take place in the spring. We are obliged to make our submission, as part of our renewable energy plan, by June. It will have to be pretty much agreed and set out by that point. If we are to obtain EU funding under the next round in 2014 - approximately the right date in the context of when construction on some of these grid networks should commence - it will be necessary to obtain European buy-in in 2011. This means that we must present our submission this year. To do so, we must be as confident as possible that, regardless of who is in power, we are going to pursue the approach to which I refer.

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