Vol. 480 No. 7
24 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the current position on the gas interconnector which is proposed between Northern Ireland and the Republic; the progress, if any, which has been made on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14935/97]
In September 1996 a steering group comprising my Department, the Department for Economic Development, Belfast, Bord Gáis Éireann and Phoenix Natural Gas Ltd., a gas distributor in Northern Ireland, commissioned a consortium of consultants led by Ove Arup and Partners Ireland to carry out a feasibility study into the provision of a natural gas interconnector between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The consultants presented their report to the steering group in July 1997. The report is now being examined by the individual members of the steering group.
