Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

There is huge connectivity in energy supply on both islands. About 50% of all the oil we consume and all of the natural gas last year came from the UK. We have the single electricity market. My priority and that of my Department is to ensure the continuation of trade in secure supplies of energy with the UK. In that context at yesterday's European Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council I raised the issue of gas supply. At the moment we are looking at issues such as regional co-operation - the region we have is between Ireland and the UK. We are very conscious that the UK may be outside our region. We believe that there should be flexibility such that that region remains intact.

We are exploring other options, including the Celtic interconnector. President Hollande was in Ireland recently and an agreement was signed between Réseau de Transport d'Électricité, RTE, in France and EirGrid here about developing that project. We are considering the possibility of an LNG terminal in Shannon so that we are not dependent on all our energy supplies coming from one source.

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