Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply. If we have a White Paper in early 2015 that says demand is not what was estimated and we cannot have a lag on electricity costs by building infrastructure which is not needed, the mechanisms have to be in place for EirGrid to halt its plans for Grid Link and Grid West. That seems to be the ESB's current position.

In regard to wind energy, 182 wind farms have been constructed around the country and 188 are at the planning and development stage. In its report the ESB estimated that we need another 1,000 MW and at present we have 2,200 MW. The CEO of the Irish Wind Energy Association disagrees and said we need to almost double our output. One could say, "They would say that, wouldn't they?" Many commentators say the wind lobby has been very effective in selling wind to us at a policy level. I hope the wind energy element, as well as the power requirement element, will be taken on board by the Department in the White Paper and when it is published it will have an impact on our wind policy energy on proposed wind farms around the country, Grid 25 and, in particular, Grid Link.

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