Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the reason for the delay in publishing the wind energy strategy document. [3658/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The renewable energy development group is chaired by my Department and comprises relevant experts from the administrative, industry and scientific sector including the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, Sustainable Energy Ireland, SEI, ESB National Grid and the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, among others.

The work of the group has been informed by the renewable energy consultation process and the submissions made in response to our consultation document. Other inputs to the group came from: direct presentations to the group from industry representatives and their associations; analysis conducted by subgroups of the group itself; and the work of the CHP strategy group and the bioenergy strategy group. The group's report will form the basis of my future policy decisions on the increased penetration of renewable energy technologies in the electricity market and will seek to ensure that developers can make a reasonable rate of return on renewable energy projects while ensuring that the interests of national competitiveness and the ultimate burden of cost to the final consumer are all fully taken into consideration.

The target for renewables by 2020 will be determined in the context of the all-island electricity market. A joint North-South public consultation process on an all-island vision for renewable energy by 2020 and beyond has been undertaken and the aim is to develop a long-term strategy for renewable energy on the island as a whole. The individual responses and a synthesis paper have been posted on both Departments' websites since December last and work is ongoing between the two Departments to develop the process taking into account views of industry stakeholders.

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans for the Government to publish a comprehensive alternative energy strategy. [3659/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I intend to publish an energy policy consultation paper in the first half of 2006 which will set out medium and long-term perspectives for national energy policy and which will take account of the considerable and complex challenges for Irish energy policy going forward. This paper will deal with all aspects of the energy sector, including alternative energy.