Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 93: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when he plans to establish the new Energy Research Institute; if Sustainable Energy Ireland will be merged into this new institution; the reason he chose not to enhance SEI but establish a completely new body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20644/06]

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 144: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans to co-ordinate research and development in the energy sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20741/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 144 together.

I am establishing an Irish Energy Research Council, as a forum to advise on priorities for Irish energy research both in the medium and the longer term. The Council will co-ordinate existing energy RTDI activities, provide analysis and advice on research capacity and facilitate positioning of energy research policy with overall energy policy as well as with policies for transport, environment, agriculture enterprise, science and education. It will also play a key role in linkages with the EU and appropriate international bodies and advise on coordinating the Irish engagement with the energy elements of programmes including the EU Framework Programmes.

Consistent with this enhanced structural approach and the new funding provision for Energy RTDI 2006 is a commitment to substantially expand national funding for energy research, development and innovation. The Energy Research Council will be independently chaired and will comprise leading players from the Research Community and relevant agencies as well as including representatives from Northern Ireland and the UK.

The Council is being established on a non-statutory basis and the model is informed by other Councils and fora in place across the wider national research and development arena. There are no proposals to establish an Energy Research Institute. Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) is the statutory body charged with promoting and assisting development of sustainable energy in Ireland. In that context SEI has specific functions in relation to supporting and stimulating energy research and development. SEI will have a key role to play in the context of the work of the Energy Research Council.