Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 May 2015
222. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the review of the national energy policy; when the final report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19061/15]
View answerThe overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. A new Energy Policy Paper, which will set out Ireland’s energy policy up to 2030, is being developed. To facilitate the development of the new Policy Paper, a Green Paper on Energy Policy in Ireland was published in May 2014 opening a written public consultation process that concluded on 31 July. The Green Paper sets out six policy priority areas in respect of which submissions were sought. These are: Empowering Energy Citizens; Markets, Regulation and Prices; Planning and Implementing Essential Energy Infrastructure; Ensuring a Balanced and Secure Energy Mix; Putting the Energy System on a Sustainable Pathway; and Driving Economic Opportunity.
Over 1,200 submissions were received in the written consultation process. In addition, there was a targeted stakeholder consultation process involving 11 seminars, six of which focused on the priorities identified in the Green Paper, four regional seminars and a seminar on costs. My Department is carrying out the detailed work needed to develop the new Policy Paper. I aim to publish the Policy Paper in September 2015.
