Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 April 2025
258. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the position taken at the meeting of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council of 17 March 2025 regarding the decoupling of retail electricity and gas prices; if the Government intends to proceed with decoupling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15357/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra259. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware of the EU Commission's Action Plan for Affordable Energy (details supplied); his views on the proposal to decouple electricity prices from gas prices; his position in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15368/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 258 and 259 together.
As part of the Clean Industrial Deal, the European Commission presented an Affordable Energy Action Plan on 26 February 2025. The Action Plan is based on 4 pillars and 8 actions seeking to lower energy costs, complete the Energy Union, attract investment and prepare for potential energy crises.
The meeting of Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council on 17 March 2025 was attended by an official from my Department where the importance of further integration of an Energy Union and well-functioning EU electricity markets was emphasised. This meeting also involved extensive engagement on the Affordable Energy Action Plan.
The Government's position is that the approach proposed by the European Commission is favourable to the alternative concept of decoupling gas from the electricity market. The decoupling alternative would directly interfere with the market dispatch of generation units with a potentially significant impact on cross border trade of electricity. It is important that in making urgently needed changes to the electricity market, that there is no unintended consequences arising, in particular, damaging the trade of electricity. In Ireland's case this is crucial in the context of the all-Island Single Electricity Market and for imports and exports to Great Britain.
