Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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437. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will detail Ireland's contributions to the European Council discussion on the Commission's communication, entitled "Making the internal energy market Work"; if Ireland's concerns were incorporated into the communique; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36229/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The European Commission’s Communication on Making the Internal Energy Market Work, published in November 2012, was a timely stocktake on progress towards a single market in electricity and gas. The Communication contains an assessment of the progress made so far and identifies the remaining obstacles to completing the Internal Energy Market. Among the issues it identifies are the implementation and enforcement of internal market legislation, the requirement to cease the regulation of electricity and gas prices, the need to modernise the European electricity and gas networks, the need to encourage and reward demand side flexibility, the need for State support to be well-designed and targeted and the need for consumers to engage more actively in the market.

The aim of the Irish Presidency during the first half of 2013 was to facilitate agreement by all Member States’ Ministers on various issues and to represent the agreed positions in the "Council Conclusions". Following detailed discussions at Working Group level, and during the February Energy Council, Ministerial agreement of Council Conclusions was achieved at the 7 June Energy Council. The Council Conclusions represent a balanced compromise reflecting the work carried out by the Irish Presidency in negotiating positions acceptable to all Member States.