Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 77: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to introduce legislation to facilitate the development of offshore wind energy; the timeframe for the legislation; the position regarding offshore wind here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16633/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Foreshore & Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Act 2009, provided for the transfer of certain functions relating to the foreshore from the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Following on from the transfer of functions, which took place in January 2010, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has confirmed that later this year he will introduce legislative changes aimed at better integrating the foreshore consent processes with the planning processes under the Planning Acts and the Strategic Infrastructure Development Act and ensure a fit-for-purpose planning regime for offshore renewable energy developments.

My Department is working with the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government in relation to progressing a new regime for offshore renewable energy and both Departments are liaising with Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland (SEAI) and with the renewable energy associations. SEAI has also commenced a strategic Environmental Assessment for offshore renewable energy, which will underpin future developments.

We work closely with our colleagues in the energy sectoral group of the British-Irish Council (BIC), specifically on grid infrastructure and marine energy issues. One area for discussion between BIC members is the EU North Seas Grid Initiative. Under this initiative, the Irish and UK Governments have agreed to work with the Governments of Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxemburg, Denmark, Sweden and Norway to develop an integrated offshore grid in the North and Irish Seas. In addition, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland are conducting the Irish Scottish Links in Electricity study (ISLES) to establish the viability of an offshore electricity grid network to exploit the wind, wave and tidal resources in the Irish Sea and Atlantic coastal areas.