Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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226. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to outline any measures he is considering to maintain the level of imports of electricity from Britain following any future changes in the price of electricty between the two markets. [29479/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland remains on course to increase electricity connectivity capacity five-fold to approximately 2.5 GW by the end of the decade, summarised in the table below.

Prices in the respective markets can change on an hourly basis and interconnectors will flow based on the price difference between markets on that day. Increasing interconnection enables greater flows between the markets to share the benefit of low marginal cost renewables from region to region.

The EU - UK summit which took place on 19th May marks the beginning of an ambitious new phase of EU-UK cooperation, to the benefit of people and businesses across our continent and across the island of Ireland. It is welcome that both sides have reached agreement on a strategic partnership and a forward-looking agenda for cooperation targeted at improving opportunities for their citizens.

The UK and the European Commission have agreed to work towards establishing a link between carbon markets by way of a EU-UK agreement linking the UK Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) and the EU ETS. This commitment is welcome. As a result, carbon allowances issued by either the EU or the United Kingdom could be recognised for compliance under the greenhouse gas ETS of the other party.

Furthermore, the agreement to link the UK ETS and EU ETS should create the conditions for goods originating in our jurisdictions to benefit from mutual exemptions from the respective European Union and United Kingdom Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms (CBAMs). The agreement would be based on the dynamic alignment of the UK with the relevant EU rules underpinning the functioning of the ETS link.

The linking of respective ETS and mutual exemption from CBAMs will need further detailed negotiations and work programmes to resolve the technical detail. However, what is most important is that we have now agreed an ambitious agenda for strengthening ties to the benefit of people and businesses in both the EU and UK. We believe that the UK is a valuable partner for the EU as we seek to achieve our 2030 targets and beyond. Energy is an area where we can cooperate in a mutually beneficial way.