asked the Minister for Energy if he will outline the planning which has been undertaken by his Department and State agencies to ensure that sufficient energy is available in the Republic for commercial, industrial and domestic use into the 21st century.
Written Answers. - Energy Policy.
27.
I spoke at length and in considerable detail about energy policy during the debate on the Estimate for my Department on 11 June 1986. Energy policy has been continuously developed over recent years so as to improve the security of supplies. Examples of decisions which have improved long term security are the construction of Moneypoint, the successful takeover of the refinery to avert its closure and the extension of natural gas supply to a number of areas. We are thus diversifying the types of energy used, widening the sources of supply and maximising indigenous sources.
In addition, the energy State companies are submitting five year corporate plans annually now which are a basis for medium term policy reviews.
One of the characteristics of a satisfactory energy policy is flexibility so that changes can be made in appropriate directions to take account of significant movements in relation to prices and security of supply. The need for this has again been demonstrated in recent times by dramatic changes in relation to a number of energy forms.
Both the Energy Directorate of the EC Commission and the International Energy Agency take particular interest in long term policy, planning and review and we participate fully in their activities.