Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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5. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the efforts that have been made at European level to ring-fence funding for energy efficiency measures; and the position the Government has taken. [16494/15]

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I ask the Minister the efforts that have been made at European level to ring-fence funding for energy efficiency measures and the position taken by the Government with respect to those measures.

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Energy efficiency is crucially important to each of three pillars of energy policy, which are sustainability, security of supply and competitiveness. My Department is continuing to develop and enhance policy in this area and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland is continuing to implement policy with the roll-out of efficiency measures in homes and businesses throughout the country. Ireland is strongly committed to playing its part in meeting EU energy and climate goals. To meet these obligations, Ireland must maintain a very significant level of effort. In order to do that, we must deliver energy infrastructure and policy initiatives of real scale. This requires investment of an equivalent scale and this is why EU funding is of critical importance for Ireland's successful delivery of our sustainable energy transition. As the Deputy may be aware, I will publish a definitive energy policy paper later this year, which will set out the key energy policy actions to be undertaken in the period to 2030.

There are complex interactions both within energy policy and between energy and the wide range of other policy areas that may be invested in by the European Fund for Strategic Investment, which is currently under negotiation. Therefore, it is important that the governance arrangements for EU funding proposals allow the European Investment Bank sufficient latitude to optimise the value of these funds in the interests of achieving coherent action across all EU member states and value for money for EU citizens.

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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It has been reported that last month our Taoiseach ordered Mr. Seán Kelly, MEP, to vote against a proposal that would earmark €5 billion in the European Parliament for energy efficiency. I understand Mr. Kelly originally put his name to the proposal but withdrew it after a phone call from the Taoiseach. If that is true, how does that sit with the Government's objectives of fully exploiting and supporting renewable energy in this country?

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Negotiation is under way on the European Fund for Strategic Investment, which is the context of the issue raised by the Deputy. The Department of Finance is leading those negotiations for Ireland. The Council's negotiating position on the draft European Fund for Strategic Investment regulation was agreed at ECOFIN in March this year. A key element of this position was that the governance arrangements for this fund should not be overly prescriptive regarding the European Investment Bank scope to manage the fund. Ireland supports the Council position.

The European Parliament agreed its negotiation position on the regulation this week. The European Parliament took a different approach to the Council and called for the ring-fencing of funding for energy efficiency. This is a matter for the Parliament and the Government's position remains aligned with that of the Council, as agreed last month. Officials from this Department are in communication with the European Commission as they work to establish how best to fund sustainable energy projects, including energy efficiency, from the European Fund for Strategic Investment and other financial instruments. This work is in its early stages.

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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Is the Minister confirming that the phone call was made and the action followed the phone call? If so, that would raise a very serious question mark. Currently, we are importing the vast majority of energy through fossil fuels and that is not sustainable into the future. Sustainable renewable energy must be developed and promoted here, as well as energy efficiency.

I understand the proposal to earmark €5 billion was eventually passed by a single vote, notwithstanding an instruction, which was inspired by the Taoiseach, to Seán Kelly, MEP, to change his position on the issue. This needs to be explained and I would like more than a restatement of what the Minister claims to be Government policy and priorities.

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Energy efficiency is extremely important and has been accorded a high priority by me and the Government. I have contributed to a number of EU Energy Council meetings on the issue which I regard as an extremely important policy imperative. Energy efficiency features centrally in the current negotiations on the European fund for strategic investment for this reason. Ring-fencing is one approach that has been discussed in the European Parliament. The Government's position is correct; we should not be excessively prescriptive regarding the scope of the European Investment Bank to manage the fund. The debate on this issue is continuing.

As to any particular telephone call between the Taoiseach and Seán Kelly, MEP, I am not privy to, nor am I aware of, any such telephone call and I do not know whether one took place. The Deputy has another route available to him if he wishes to ask a question about the matter.

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I may go down that route.