Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 83: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his policy in regard to the provision of adequate and sustainable energy in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20707/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I can advise the Deputy that I intend to publish an Energy Policy Green Paper shortly which will set out the framework for national energy policy and which will address the challenges of environmental sustainability, security of supply and competitiveness.

Irish energy policy is firmly set in the global and EU context. Global demand for energy is growing and sustained high oil and gas prices are probably here to stay. Security of supply concerns are not helped by supply disruption and instability. All economies must address the environmental challenges notably climate change. As a consequence there is a world wide focus on fuel diversity and renewable energy technologies as part of the answer to ensuring sustainable energy resources into the future.

The European Union has a growing dependency on energy imports and there is a renewed focus in Europe on energy issues in light of security of supply concerns, climate change and risks to competitiveness. We welcome the new impetus at EU level to develop a framework for a common energy strategy while noting that certain decisions including energy mix remain the prerogative of individual Member States.

Ireland has similar energy challenges to those facing EU and other economies. We also have specific structural characteristics including strong economic growth, small market size and peripherality. We have little in the way of domestic fossil fuel resources. We are however well placed to develop renewable energy as an important contributor to energy diversity. We must also ensure the timely planning and delivery of interconnection up to 2012 and beyond as crucial for security of supply. We are also working to deliver the Single All-Island Energy Market by 2007 which will contribute to security of supply.

Existing and proposed policy actions will be set out in the Energy Policy Green Paper which will give us the framework for national sustainable energy policy for the medium to longer term.