Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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1268. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department has an updated position subsequent to April 2014 regarding the proposed renewable energy export policy and development framework; if he has had further discussions with his UK counterpart regarding same in the interim period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54659/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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As the Deputy may be aware, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Energy Co-operation with the UK Government in January 2013, a joint programme of work was undertaken to consider how Irish renewable energy resources, onshore and offshore, might be developed to the mutual benefit of both Ireland and the UK. Economic analysis conducted by the Department at the time clearly indicated that, under agreed policy and regulatory conditions, renewable energy trading could deliver significant economic benefits to Ireland and the UK, as well as being attractive to developers. However, subsequent to this, given the economic, policy and regulatory complexities involved, and some key decisions that were not taken by the UK to progress energy trading, delivery of renewable energy trading with the UK by 2020 is not considered a realistic proposition and the matter has not progressed any further since then.