Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 July 2013
722. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the all-island energy initiative is a priority for him; and if it will be discussed at the next North-South ministerial meeting. [30034/13]
View answerThe ongoing development of the All Island Energy Market is a major priority for my Department and for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). For some time now the administrations in Northern Ireland and Ireland have cooperated actively on energy policy. There is top level political commitment in both jurisdictions to the development of competition in the energy sectors in the interests of delivering improved services and economic benefits to all customers on the island.
Cooperation between Northern Ireland and Ireland on energy matters takes place under the auspices of a Joint Steering Group (JSG) established in July 2003. The group comprises senior officials from the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR) and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) and the offices of the two Regulatory Authorities, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation (NIAUR).
The all island electricity market or Single Electricity Market (SEM) has developed from the all island energy project. The aim of the project is to create a single market for natural gas and electricity on the island of Ireland. The project was started following a joint policy decision by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland and the then Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to create the all-island energy market. The Development Framework for the All Island Energy Market was published jointly by the Departments and Regulators in November 2004.
The Governments of the United Kingdom and Ireland signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Single Electricity Market (SEM) in December 2006. The document describes the arrangements in relation to the establishment and operation of a single wholesale electricity market in Northern Ireland and Ireland.
Subsequent legislation in Northern Ireland and Ireland was put in place to underpin the SEM, including the establishment of the SEM Committee, a committee of CER, NIAUR and an Independent Member. This enables effective decision-making on single electricity market matters and makes provision for the objectives of Ministers and Regulators with regard to matters which affect, or are likely to affect the SEM. The SEM has operated successfully since it launched in November 2007.
My Department, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Northern Ireland, the CER and NIAUR are working together on the development of the All-Island Common Arrangements for Gas whereby all stakeholders can buy, sell, transport, operate, develop and plan the natural gas market north and south of the border effectively on an all-island basis. The CER and NIAUR signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2008, outlining the high level principles of the CAG project. I note that the regulators have made considerable progress to date, and that the current state of play on CAG is that their work is continuing, in particular on the studies commissioned by the Regulators.
Energy matters are not one of the six areas of cooperation that fall within the remit of the North South Ministerial Council. These are agriculture, education, environment, health, tourism and transport. The Joint Secretariat of the North South Ministerial Council has, among other functions, the tasks of arranging the schedule of Council meetings and securing prior political agreement to agendas for meetings of the Council.
