The new North-South interconnector, which will allow for the flow of 900 MW of electricity between Ireland and Northern Ireland, will be critical for improving the operation of the all-island integrated single electricity market. It will also help to facilitate the achievement of the goal of generating up to 80% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2030. A resilient and well-connected energy infrastructure is vital for Ireland's economic well-being and the ability to respond to the future needs of energy co…

We listen acutely to communities. That is what all politicians do. We listen. I listen to a country where high energy prices are crippling people, as various Deputies said earlier. One of the benefits of having a North-South interconnector is that it would save Irish households significant amounts of money year in, year out. I hear people ask why we are so dependent on the distant fossil fuels that hold the country to ransom. An interconnector would also help us to develop and deliver our own power. I hear communit…

I met the Minister the other day and earlier in the summer. It is very difficult because there is no Administration up North. There is keen interest in it even if there are no structures whereby a government up North can make a decision on this. We need a decision. I first started hearing about this 20 years ago when it was described as the most important and urgent project to deliver an effective all-island energy system. In the intervening years, all of the energy experts I have heard have said that we have to ha…

That is what we need to change. That is what we need to get away from.

We have a responsibility in government to think of the long-term development of the island.

It is an issue. I fully accept it is an issue.

I also believe-----

The geoscience regulation office in my Department is responsible for the regulation of petroleum exploration and development in Ireland. Petroleum authorisations are issued under the Petroleum and other Minerals Development Act 1960 and subsequent Acts and include decommissioning operations of petroleum facilities. Decommissioning of petroleum facilities is subject to regulatory and environmental approval by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications. Holders of petroleum authorisations are requir…

We consider a whole variety of different options and will still consider various options. Cork Harbour in particular has some real strategic advantages when it comes to a whole variety of different energy infrastructure. One of the storage options has always been looking at the likes of the Kinsale gas field, or the Ballycotton or Seven Heads fields as there is a network of fields there, to see whether they could have gas storage capability. One of the downsides of that is one requires a lot of cushion gas and that…

As I said, the decommissioning of this started a number of years ago and it is my understanding the platforms are starting to be decommissioned. They have already been taken out.

The pipeline has been displaced to seawater and the Inch terminal has been degassed. As I said, that was a very old pipeline in the first place and I think it was already 40 years on the seabed. Accordingly, I do not think that infrastructure will be used. The decision was made on good energy grounds and there was much detailed consideration. The Department assessed all the potential uses and came back with a recommendation for decommissioning, so that is what we proceeded with. However, as I said, there will be ot…

There is a wide range of grants, vouchers and training available to help SMEs to reduce their energy costs. Improving energy efficiency and reducing energy consumption helps to reduce emissions and ultimately improves competitiveness and saves on energy costs. Supported by my Department and administered by the SEAI, current supports to SMEs include the excellence in energy efficiency design scheme. It is for all businesses, including SMEs, and helps in the planning of any major investment in energy efficiency. Ther…

I accept those businesses, and so many others across the country, as well as households, are finding the bills that are coming are critical to their operations. Government will engage in this six-month period ahead to look to providing further supports targeted at small or medium businesses because those businesses may not have the ability to pass on the costs. They are the ones that are richest in employment and we do not want to see them fall to this crisis which is not of their making, or the doing of anyone els…

In response to Deputy Conway-Walsh, I will commit to that. It is important that everyone does treat this situation as what it is, an emergency situation, the SEAI included. It is important for it to accelerate its communications with companies looking for advice or grants to make sure we act quickly. I agree with Deputy Cairns. It is not a functioning market. There are supernormal profits being made. The best way for us to target those is to work in conjunction with European colleagues because the more uniform and …

To answer Deputy McNamara, we will power this State using our own natural resources. We will have to share and balance with our neighbouring countries in the north-west region of Europe but we will power our future. The most secure way, and the most competitive way, is through renewable power. It is through the immense renewable energy resources we have. They are technologically available now, are cheaper and cleaner, and we have them in abundance. The Deputy is shaking his head but the analysis, the scientific ana…

We are already delivering. We now have some 40% of our electricity coming from-----

There is one on the east coast.

If I can answer the Deputy's question, we will develop offshore in phase 1 off the east coast-----

There is one within the possible development at the Sceirde Rocks off Connemara. The consenting of those will come, subject to the consent being approved, this month. They will go to auction this year, they will go to planning next year and into construction once out of that planning process. This is what every country in north-west Europe is investing in. This is the reality. This is where all the money is going. We had a meeting on Monday of north-west European energy ministers. We did a joint declaration, which …

It is fixed wind first.