Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I would like to stress the strategic imperative for this economy and our citizens of cost effective investment in electricity networks. The Government is committed to ensuring that the investment plans of EirGrid and ESB Networks are delivered across the country. The significant level of grid investment required over the next decade is critical for safe and secure electricity supply. It will underpin regional economic growth and job creation and it will enable delivery of the Government's renewable energy ambitions in line with Ireland's EU targets.

The security of energy supply is fundamental to the well being of all society and to the economy. Ireland is a peripheral island energy market which is vulnerable to the effects of international disruptions to oil and gas supplies. I confirm that I will bring a memorandum on security of energy supplies to Government in the coming weeks and the consultation period I envisaged at the time I published the report was approximately six weeks. I cannot control the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture and, therefore, I do not know how long it will take to assess the issue. The committee will influence the outcome. I will stop all development until the consultation period is over. Having said that, there is a necessity to get on with this project as quickly as we can.

The memorandum to which the Senator referred will address the imperative of cost effective investment in the electricity and gas transmission and distribution networks and the need to build other critical energy infrastructure in the national interest. The North-South interconnector is vital infrastructure for the island, something that is not questioned by any reasonable citizen. The lack of sufficient interconnection between the North and South is preventing the full benefits of the all-island market being realised. The continued absence of the interconnector is costing the economies, North and South, up to €30 million every year. It is vital for security of electricity supply on this island. It is critically needed to connect renewable energy to the system and to deliver economic development in the north-east region.

The North-South project has been under development since 2005 and is recognised by the EU as a strategically vital project. In common with all such transmission line projects around Europe, the plans for the North-South line have been marked by controversy. The programme for Government committed to the appointment of an international commission to review and report on the case for, and cost of, undergrounding the Meath-Tyrone power lines. I appointed the international expert commission last July. The members, from Sweden, Norway and Belgium, have long-standing professional and academic credentials and experience in transmission and power systems.

Meetings were held by the commission members with EirGrid, CER, ESB Networks, County Monaghan Anti-Pylon Committee, the Irish Farmers' Association, and the North-East Pylon Pressure Group and, at my request, they also met Oireachtas representatives from counties Cavan, Monaghan and Meath. The commission also toured much of the proposed route. I received the commission's report on 9 January and, having advised Government colleagues, published the report on my Department's website on 17 January. I also forwarded the report to the Chairman of the Oireachtas committee. Publication of the report allows for a period of reflection for some weeks. I encourage Senators to read the report.

In the time available, I do not propose to go into the detail of its analysis but the report is succinct, thorough and easily accessible. I welcome it as a further independent input into the debate on transmission lines. The commission recognises the importance of the Meath-Tyrone transmission line for consumers and security of supply, North and South. The commission notes that there is no single '"right" solution. Technical solutions must be project specific. The report does not, therefore, recommend any particular technical option, while recommending against wholly undergrounding using AC cable. It provides its own views on the feasible technology options available for consideration for the Meath-Tyrone project, including HVDC technology, given the changes in technology, suppliers and costs in recent years. In that context, the commission estimates that the cost of implementing the project as an HVDC underground cable option would be three times the cost of the traditional overhead line option, while noting that costs estimates are always uncertain. I commend the report to the Seanad. I welcome its scrutiny and a thoroughgoing debate by the Oireachtas joint committee in the near future.