Edward Nealon
Ceist:32 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Energy his plans for the allocation of natural gas for electricity generation in the coming years; and whether a long-term contract of supply will be provided to the ESB.
Vol. 400 No. 9
32 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Energy his plans for the allocation of natural gas for electricity generation in the coming years; and whether a long-term contract of supply will be provided to the ESB.
34 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Energy whether large consumers of gas will have the right to directly conclude their own supply contracts for gas and use the proposed interconnector to the United Kingdom.
35 Tomás Mac Giolla asked the Minister for Energy if it is intended to give the ESB direct access to the proposed natural gas pipeline from Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 32, 34 and 35 together.
The ESB will continue to have a gas burning requirement into the foreseeable future. The use of gas for power generation has become more attractive internationally because of environmental factors and improvements both in the gas supply situation and the combustion efficiency of generation plant. It is my intention that the ESB will continue to receive supplies on the best terms that are available.