17 Feabh 2014, 08:53
The generation and use of electricity in Ireland and the potential export of surplus electricity to the United Kingdom will on the agenda of the Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht tomorrow, Tuesday, 18th February 2014 when it meets with representatives from Bord na Móna and Element Power Ireland.
Michael McCarthy, Cathaoirleach of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht, said: “Last year, Ireland and Britain signed an agreement to export wind energy from Ireland to power millions of homes in the UK. Tomorrow we will have an opportunity to meet with two companies involved in the generation of electricity in Ireland and which have plans to export surplus energy to the UK. Element Power’s ‘Greenwire’ development is a plan for a series of connected projects exporting wind power generated in the Midlands of Ireland to the consumers in the UK via two independent subsea cables. Bord na Móna’s Clean Energy Hub is that company’s plan to build a number of linked wind farms located on or around cutaway peatlands that are coming out of peat production in the East Midlands. Our meeting provides us with a chance to discuss in more detail each company’s plans. It is also a chance to consider the economic impact of these projects in terms of job creation and the generation and export of sustainable energy, as well as examining the social and environmental impact on communities and landowners in the areas where the projects are planned.”
The Committee meeting will start at 2.15pm on Tuesday, 18th February in Committee Room 4.
Committee proceedings can be viewed online here.
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Membership of the Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht
Deputies: James Bannon TD (Fine Gael); Paudie Coffey TD (Fine Gael); Noel Coonan (Fine Gael) Leas-Chathaoirleach; Marcella Corcoran Kennedy TD (Fine Gael); Barry Cowen (Fianna Fáil); Luke Flanagan TD (Independent); Kevin Humphreys TD (Labour); Michael McCarthy TD (Labour) Cathaoirleach; Sandra McLellan TD (Sinn Féin); Tony Mc Loughlin TD (Fine Gael); Michelle Mulherin TD (Fine Gael); Catherine Murphy TD (Independent); Gerald Nash TD (Labour); Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD; Brian Stanley TD (Sinn Féin).
Senators: Senator Cáit Keane (Fine Gael) Senator Denis Landy (Labour); An Seanadóir Fiach Mac Conghail (Neamhspleách); Senator Catherine Noone (Fine Gael); An Seanadóir Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fáil): Senator Ned O’Sullivan (Fianna Fáil).