John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 126: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Irish Rural Link has called for the establishment of an Energy Commission that will examine the use of farm land as a means of meeting Ireland's renewable energy commitments; and if he intends to raise this issue with the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. [18169/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware that Irish Rural Link has called for the establishment of an Energy Commission. However, I understand that an Energy Commission already exists. It is known as the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), and is an independent body under paragraph 9 in the Schedule to the Electricity Regulation Act 1999.

In this context, the Deputy will appreciate that matters relating to the production of renewable energy fall within the remit of my colleague, Noel Dempsey T.D., Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, while the use of farm land is within the remit of my colleague, Mary Coughlan T.D., Minister for Agriculture and Food.