James Breen (Clare, Independent)
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Question 235: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if, in view of statements emanating from recent EU summits regarding the creation of a single European energy market, when the urgently required electricity interconnectors to Britain and Northern Ireland will be operational; his views on whether they will be co-financed by the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13972/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The conclusions of the recent spring European Council as well as the Commission's green paper, A European Strategy for Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy, both emphasise the imperative for additional physical capacity in order to complete the European internal energy market, with interconnection identified as being particularly important.

It is the Government's policy objective to ensure that existing interconnection is augmented in the long-term interests of security of supply and market development, particularly in light of our small size and peripherality.

The Government is fully committed to progressing the development of east-west electricity interconnection as a matter of priority. In line with the Government's priority wish, the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, at my Department's request has been engaged in a process of rigorous exploration of the options for such development. The Minister will be bringing the matter to Government shortly for decision as to the mechanism to secure east-west interconnection in terms of financing and developer selection, informed by the advice of the CER.

Further North-South interconnection has also been identified as essential to underpin the proposed all-island energy market. In November 2004, both Governments jointly endorsed plans put forward by the CER and the Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation for the construction of a second South-North electricity interconnector.

Planning for the construction of the interconnector is underway by the transmission system operators and it is estimated that the interconnector will be operational by 2012.