Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 74: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will report on the outcome of the latest European council meeting of Energy Ministers with particular regard to the discussions that took place regarding the draft European Union Green Paper on energy policy; the position the Government took on proposals for a single regulatory regime within the Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13751/06]

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 76: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the steps he proposes to take to develop the energy market in line with the backdrop of the EU Green Paper on energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13805/06]

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the Government's position on the recent EU energy Green Paper; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13629/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 74, 76 and 103 together.

Future energy policy for Europe was the central issue for this Council with the discussions focusing on the European Commission's recently published Green Paper, A European Strategy for Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy. The discussions on energy were very much a first step in what promises to be a long and complex process. It is without doubt an issue of central importance to Ireland and the future success of our economy. National energy regulators have found it challenging to deal with cross-border issues and mechanisms to remedy this situation are required. In the absence of further detailed analysis from the Commission, we have taken the view that it would be premature to agree in principle to the concept of a single regulator. We welcome the recent initiative taken by the European Regulators Group for Electricity and Gas, of which the CER is a member, which offers a mechanism which will actively involve all stakeholders in a co-ordinated approach to progressing integration issues for regional markets. Ireland agrees with the broad thrust of the Commission's Green Paper and we look forward to making a positive contribution to the debate in the coming months. The paper sets out the formidable challenges facing Europe in the energy arena and offers a wide-ranging set of proposed actions for discussion. The Minister intends to publish a Green Paper on energy policy in the coming months, which will take account of EU developments in addressing the complex challenges for Irish energy policy in the medium to longer term.