Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 290: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason the Government did not make a formal submission in response to the European Commission's Communication (details supplied) of 24 May 2005 on review of the Scope of universal service in accordance with Article 15 of the Universal Services Directive. [19403/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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At the time of the review, the resources of my Department were fully engaged on the preparation of the communications regulation legislation which was a priority for both the Department and the Government. In those circumstances, a formal submission was not made to the Commission's review of the scope of the universal service.

The European Commission undertakes a large number of consultations on regulatory issues and it is not always possible to respond to them all.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 291: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if Ireland has complied with its obligations under EC law to prepare and forward to the European Commission by 30 June 2007 an National Energy Efficiency Action Plan on the way to achieve a 9% savings target by 2016 set by the Energy End Use Efficiency and Energy Services Directive. [19404/07]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 297: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he will publish the National Energy Efficiency Plan; the key measures contained in the energy efficiency plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19482/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 291 and 297 together.

My Department together with SEI is currently finalising a National Energy Efficiency Action Plan for public consultation which will set out the actions to deliver on the Government's ambitious target of at least 20% improvement in energy efficiency by 2020 reflecting the new EU target set in 2006. Under the Programme for Government and the Energy Policy Framework we have also set a target of 33% for the public sector. I expect to launch this public consultation later this month. In the meantime we will shortly submit to the Commission Ireland's Action Plan as required under the Energy End Use Efficiency and Energy Services Directive specifying the energy efficient improvement measures being taken to reach the 9% Directive's indicative energy savings target by 2016.