Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I share the Deputy's view of the desirability of proceeding with a significant employment project in an area such as Ballylongford. I have, in so far as it is within my power, done everything to indicate why the Government wants to support and progress the project as quickly as it can. However, as I stated previously, we would have had a decision last October from the regulator whose task this is under statute if the promoters of the project had not decided for whatever reason to have recourse to the European Union. That has delayed the process. The consultation with stakeholders the Deputy has sought is under way as a result of the meeting held on 21 December to which he referred. All of the stakeholders were convened by the CER and invited to make submissions. They were further invited to make written or oral submissions before 16 March on the draft decision paper published. The regulator has promised to have a final decision by the end of April.

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