Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The North Sea offshore grid is in the first priority list in the annex to EU Regulation No. 347/2013, which sets out guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure. These guidelines cover integrated offshore electricity grid development and related interconnectors in the North Sea, the Irish Sea, the English Channel, the Baltic Sea and neighbouring waters aimed at transporting electricity from renewable offshore energy sources to centres of consumption and storage, and to increase cross-border electricity exchange. The member states concerned are Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

The interconnector with France is at a conceptual stage, but from speaking with people in the industry, I am aware of the opportunities associated with it. If we are to move to a single energy market, we should not be restricted to connectivity with the United Kingdom. From a personal point of view, I see France as an option but it is at a conceptual stage and we need to continue the conversation by keeping it on the agenda, whether in Strasbourg, the European Commission or the European Council. We are all conscious of the importance of energy security given what is happening in eastern Europe. We need to develop plan B and plan C, and if the interconnector with France is an option, we have to keep it on the agenda.

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