Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 123: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions which have taken place at the EU with respect to energy security. [1870/09]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 162: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide details of the recent meeting in Moscow between an EU delegation and Ukraine and Russia over gas supplies; and if he will make a statement on the matter with particular reference to the need for Ireland to wean itself off the kind of energy vulnerability such stand-offs underline. [1945/09]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 759: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts being made at EU level to ensure continuity of gas supply between Russia and Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2323/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 123, 162 and 759 together.

At the outset, I want to make clear our solidarity with our European partners, who have in some cases been extremely gravely affected by the energy shortages. Homes, businesses and public services have all suffered from the closing of gas supplies. It is absolutely unacceptable that this dispute should have been allowed to affect European consumers in this manner. This has been discussed at meetings of European Foreign Ministers and Energy Ministers under the Czech Presidency. It is important to note that the dispute which cut off gas supplies to Europe was exclusively concerned with bilateral commercial arrangements between Ukraine and Russia. The EU and its Member States were not parties to this dispute.

A meeting between Russia and the Ukraine was held in Moscow on 17 January to resolve the dispute. The Czech Presidency and the Commission attended the Moscow meeting on behalf of the EU Member States in order to convey to the parties a number of points which were agreed by the Union. These were:

1. Gas to be restored immediately and unconditionally.

2. This is a Russia Ukraine commercial dispute. Both sides must resolve this. The EU is not getting involved as regards who is to blame.

3. There are clear serious commercial, financial, political and economic consequences for both sides.

4. Both sides need to implement and fulfil the agreement reached with the EU on monitoring.

I am pleased to confirm that gas flows to European markets resumed earlier this week. However, this cannot be the end of the matter.

I discussed this issue with my colleagues at yesterday's meeting of the General Affairs Council. We agreed to work towards a comprehensive series of decisions on European energy security at the 2009 Spring European Council. Further decisions will be taken by the Energy Council at its meeting on 12 February 2009, with the focus on diversifying sources and routes of supply and improving infrastructure connections. Strengthening solidarity mechanisms and improving interconnection throughout Europe will also be critical to achieving more secure energy supplies for European consumers. Ireland will engage fully with its European partners in this vital debate.

At national level, the Government is committed to delivering on its commitments with regard to renewable energy and energy efficiency. Implementation of the Sustainable Energy White Paper and the Energy Efficiency Action Plan will be critical in helping to reduce our dependency on imported fuels.