Vol. 404 No. 4
55 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Energy if he will outline Ireland's attitude to a European Energy Charter; the benefits likely to accrue (a) to Europe and (b) to Ireland from such a charter; the current position on arrangements for such a charter; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The proposal for a European Energy Charter arises from an initiative taken by the Netherlands Prime Minister, Mr. Lubbers, submitted to the Dublin Summit in June last year; my initial reaction was one of welcome and support.
The Deputy will be aware that the Taoiseach also made known his support for this initiative at meetings of Heads of State in Paris and in Rome over the past months.
The benefits likely to accrue to the European Community and to Europe as a whole would be increased energy supplies, particularly gas, for users on the one hand, and expanded markets for producers and sellers on the other. Included in the latter would be the Soviet Union with its enormous resources of both oil and gas. The advantages arising to the European Community would be considerable in regard to security of supply as well as the economic benefits generally. These benefits should also accrue to Ireland.
In regard to the current status of the proposal, the position is that the European Commission is preparing an outline approach for discussion both within the Community itself and with other European countries. I expect the matter to take the form of a proposal from the Commission within the next few months. We will then have an opportunity to formulate Ireland's detailed position on it.
