Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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336. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the current status of the memorandum of understanding between the Irish and UK Governments to progress plans for the trading of renewable energy between both countries; if he will state his view on the recent publication of energy targets from the European Commission for 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15180/14]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Ireland and the UK have made good progress on both States' joint, innovative and ambitious work in the area of renewable energy trading since my signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Davey M.P. in January 2013. However, it is recognised that the economic, policy and regulatory complexities involved, and the key decisions yet to be taken by the UK, would make 2020 delivery very difficult to achieve given project lead times. For this reason, the shared work will focus on the longer term post 2020 period, and both countries will continue to work together on that basis.

Following the recent publication by the European Commission of its proposal for a 2030 Climate and Energy Framework, my Department is undertaking analysis to establish the scale of the contribution Ireland can make to the achievement of the proposed EU renewable energy target of 27%, while ensuring that action taken will be cost effective.