Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 March 2008
107 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the recent actions of a Russian gas supplier (details supplied), whose chairperson has recently been elected Russian president, in halving gas supplies to Ukraine; his further views on the consequences of same for European energy supplies; the discussions that have emanated at EU level in response to this step; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10283/08]
Amharc ar fhreagra120 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on efforts undertaken by Ireland with regard to stabilising and securing future energy supplies throughout the European Union in response to the ongoing insecurity relating to Russian-Ukrainian energy disputes. [10285/08]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 120 together.
The latest dispute between Russia and Ukraine must not be allowed to place the EU's long-term energy security at risk. For this reason, we welcome their recent agreement over gas supply contracts and would urge both sides to avoid any further actions which could lead to supply constraints. However, as a high percentage of Ireland's gas supplies are sourced from Britain, and are largely produced from North Sea and Norwegian gas reserves, we are not dependent on Russian gas supplies.
However, this in not the case with the wider EU, whose gas market is vulnerable to energy supply disruptions and, with the long-term decline in EU domestic gas production, whose dependency on external suppliers will become greater. There are a number of measures which would significantly improve Europe's energy security, in particular the physical integration of the internal EU gas market through increased interconnection of gas supplies. Improvements in energy efficiency and renewable energy production will also help to reduce our vulnerability to potential disruptions to external energy supplies.
The Spring European Council, which is meeting this week, is expected to review progress in developing the external dimension of the Energy Policy for Europe. The next EU Strategic Energy Review, due in November 2008, will focus in particular on security of supply and external energy policy. Other important instruments are the extension of the EU's energy policies to other European countries through the Energy Community framework and the deepening of relations with the EU's strategic partners in the energy field.
