20 Sep 2012, 17:38
The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications today heard Günther Oettinger, European Commissioner for Energy, outline the challenges for EU policy in the area in the coming years.
In a comprehensive address, Commissioner Oettinger focussed on how Europe can provide for energy security, lower emissions and competitive pricing into the future. The Commissioner in particular pointed to the important role in fostering and policing the internal market.
Chairman of the Committee Tom Hayes TD says: “Our Committee thanks Commissioner Oettinger for taking time out of his busy schedule in Ireland to engage with us. We heard the Commissioner discuss the imperative for greater investment in infrastructure, in order to ensure that the potential benefits of a true EU internal market for energy are realised.
“The Commissioner said that energy infrastructure lagged considerably behind transport connections, noting that over sixty bridges spanned the Rhine from his region of Germany in to France yet no electricity interconnector existed. In that context, our Committee shares his enthusiasm for the €600m interconnector between Ireland and Wales opened today, which significantly increases Ireland’s security of supply and the potential to export clean energy. The Commissioner pointed to favourable investment conditions for wind energy in the West of Ireland for instance, when linked into a pan-European grid. We were encouraged also to hear the Commission's willingness to cofinance similar projects connecting Member States into the future.
“The Commissioner referred to the important partnership role that National Parliaments have, along with the Commission and Member State governments, in forging a sustainable and clean supply of energy for Europe. We look forward to engaging extensively with the Commissioner on our future work, including when he visits Ireland next May during our six month rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union.”
The meeting today commenced with a session with John Horgan, Chairperson Designate of Bord na Móna, which also touched on the devlopment of wind energy.
Deputy Hayes continues: “Under the Programme for Government, those who are being proposed for appointment as chairpersons of State boards are required to make themselves available to the appropriate Oireachtas Committee. With the peat harvest at 40 percent of anticipated levels this year due to a poor summer, the company faces significant challenges in the short term. We heard Mr Horgan outline his vision for the company, which includes considerable diversification into wind energy in the coming years.
“The Committee agreed to forward the transcript of Committee Members’ engagement with him for consideration by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte TD.\"
ENDS
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Committee Membership
Deputies
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Dessie Ellis. Sinn Féin
Martin Ferris, Sinn Féin
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Tom Fleming, Independent
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Tom Hayes, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Colm Keaveney, Fine Gael
Seán Kenny, Labour
Mattie McGrath, Independent
Éamon Ó Cuív, Fianna Fáil
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Ann Phelan, Labour
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Senators
Terry Brennan
Sean D. Barrett
Eamonn Coghlan
Paschal Mooney
Ned O’Sullivan
John Whelan