Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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58. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the status of the North-South interconnector project in view of Brexit; his plans to protect the single electricity market on the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5740/17]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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68. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the implications on the North-South interconnector project if the UK is no longer part of the EU (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5419/17]

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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556. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the North-South electricity interconnector project will continue; and the effect of Brexit on the single electricity market between Ireland and Northern Ireland. [5347/17]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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559. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way in which Brexit will affect a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5395/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 58, 68, 556 and 559 together.

The all-island Single Electricity Market has delivered an efficient, competitive, and secure market for customers since its establishment in 2007. The governance framework that applies to the all-island Single Electricity Market remains in place and is based on national legislation adopted by the Oireachtas and the British Parliament.

Existing energy trading and interconnection arrangements between Ireland and the UK, ensuring the continuity of mutually dependent energy arrangements and maintaining the long standing history of beneficial cooperation in this sphere, are key priorities for both Ireland and the UK.

In line with this the priorities of the Single Electricity Market and the status of the North South Interconnector remain unchanged. On 21 December 2016 An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for the interconnector in Ireland. The decision concluded a lengthy planning process which  included an Oral Hearing completed over a 10 week period from March to May last year.

The planning process in Northern Ireland is still ongoing, with a planning inquiry due to commence later this month.

The North-South Interconnector will provide a second high capacity link between the electricity systems in Ireland and Northern Ireland and will accordingly increase the efficiency of the all-island Single Electricity Market and security of electricity supply to all our people.  

The relevant Departments, Regulators, and stakeholders in Ireland and Northern Ireland continue to work in the all-island context of the Single Electricity Market and are preparing for the consequences of the UK referendum as they arise, to ensure timely assessment and that the best possible outcomes will be achieved. 

Last November Minister Simon Hamilton (the Minister for the Economy in Northern Ireland) and I confirmed our joint commitment to the ongoing development of the Single Electricity Market. The new market arrangements will be in place in 2018, yielding benefits for electricity market customers north and south.  The UK White Paper published on 2 February noted that the UK is considering all options for the UK’s future relationship with the EU on energy, in particular, to avoid disruption to the Single Electricity Market operating across the island of Ireland.