National Gas Grid

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 June 2012

Wednesday, 13 June 2012

Ceisteanna (136)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

137 Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he expects the Shannon LNG project to wait indefinitely until the Commission for Energy Regulation is ready to decide what it is doing in relation to interconnector tariff policy; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a €600 million investment in North Kerry and hundreds of jobs are now at stake; if is attention has been drawn to the reputational damage being done to Ireland as a location for foreign direct investment as a result of this delay; if he will intervene in this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28619/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Pat Rabbitte)

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 123 raised by him on 24 May 2012.

The House will also be aware from my replies to previous parliamentary questions that the decision on the regulatory treatment of the gas interconnectors is statutorily a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and I have no function in the matter. Most recently, the CER decision has been delayed by the requirement for the regulator to provide material to my Department in response to the further submission by Shannon LNG to DG Competition. Detailed responses in relation to the issues raised about State aid compliance have recently been provided by my Department to DG Competition. The CER has assured my Department that it remains committed to publishing a final decision at the soonest practicable date and is hopeful, subject to no further blockages emerging, that a decision will be made this month.