Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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135. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the percentage of the total EU contribution to the Energy Charter Treaty secretariat Ireland’s contribution represents. [40893/21]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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136. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department has conducted a risk assessment of liabilities arising from potential legal challenges under the ISDS mechanisms of the Energy Charter Treaty. [40894/21]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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137. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department has conducted a risk assessment of liabilities arising from potential legal challenges under the ISDS mechanisms of the Energy Charter Treaty. [40896/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 to 137, inclusive, together.

The Energy Charter Treaty is a multilateral agreement that provides a framework for trade and investment in the energy area. It was signed in 1994 by nearly 50 countries, including all EU member states, and most countries from eastern Europe, central Asia, and Japan. The key provisions of the Energy Charter Treaty concern the protection of investment, trade in energy materials and products, transit and dispute settlement.

Ireland's annual contribution in 2021 to the Energy Charter Secretariat was €36,441, or approximately 0.93% of the total Energy Charter Secretariat budget. Regarding the EU proportion Ireland pays 1.8% of the overall EU contribution of €2,026,474.

This Department is liaising closely in all matters relating to the Energy Charter Treaty with EU partners, but has not yet conducted a risk assessment of liabilities arising from potential legal challenges under the ISDS mechanisms of the treaty. EU governments and the European Commission are negotiating an update to the Energy Charter Treaty’s terms at present and that process is expected to continue for some time yet.