Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 10: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his aims and views in relation to the present consultation on the single electricity market for the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14390/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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In November 2004, Minister Barry Gardiner MP and myself, as Ministers with responsibility for energy policy in Northern Ireland and Ireland, respectively, launched a development framework for an all island energy market. We agreed that the challenges faced on the island in relation to the safety, security and sustainability of energy supplies can best be achieved through co-operation on an all island basis. After a lengthy and detailed consultation a range of development priorities were identified and the first among these was the development of all island wholesale trading arrangements, which the energy regulators North and South were charged with developing.

I am pleased to note that both regulators have committed to delivering this new electricity market by July 2007. The present consultation on the design proposal for this new market being undertaken jointly by both regulators represents a significant step forward on this project and I fully support it. It will bring long-term benefits to consumers both North and South.