Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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57. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the meetings he has had, and the briefings he has received, in respect of the North-South interconnector; and if he has had any meetings in this regard with local communities or landowners that are directly affected by this project. [41438/24]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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62. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on his engagements with EirGrid at which he has received an update on the North-South interconnector. [41437/24]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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I am taking these questions on behalf of Deputy Matt Carthy. I ask the Minister to outline the meetings he has had and the briefings he has received in respect of the North-South interconnector and whether he has had any meetings in this regard with local communities or landowners that are directly affected by the project.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 62 together.

The North-South interconnector is an essential transmission infrastructure project that will link the electricity transmission networks of Ireland and Northern Ireland, leading to a more secure, affordable and sustainable supply of electricity across the island. It will facilitate the connection of 900 MW of renewable generation, enough to power 600,000 homes through green energy. As a transmission project, it is being undertaken by EirGrid, which is independently regulated by the CRU, which in turn is accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not me as Minister. The Government does not have any role in the delivery of electricity infrastructure on the ground. This is consistent with the 2012 Government policy statement on the strategic importance of transmission and other energy infrastructure which states that the Government does not seek to direct EirGrid and ESB Networks or other energy infrastructure developers to particular sites, routes or technologies.

In March 2023, Government noted and published an independent report into the project which concluded that it would not be feasible to run the North-South interconnector underground, confirming that the findings of the 2018 report remained valid. As Minister, I have operated within the regulatory and policy framework regarding the delivery of electricity infrastructure and have not had meetings with community groups regarding the project. However, EirGrid had been and will continue to engage with the local communities and elected representatives affected by the development of the North-South interconnector.

Given the relevance of the project to the overall development of our electricity grid, when necessary I receive briefings from my officials on the current position, including for example in advance of my recent meeting with Conor Murphy, Minister for the Economy in the North, who has acknowledged the benefits which the interconnector will bring, including lower cost electricity, improved security of supply and greater investment in renewable electricity. In short, the most recent meetings I have had are with my officials and with Conor Murphy.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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It is important that the Minister is across this as a project. With a united voice, those of us locally have said the project will not be delivered in the timeframe suggested or in the way EirGrid seems to have outlined. We have almost 20 years of evidence to that effect. From my end, and that of my colleagues, the frustration is that EirGrid does not seem to be listening. My concern is that the Minister is not engaging with EirGrid to advise it on this. The latest correspondence we are aware of concerns an extended period regarding letters of offer. I would like an update from the Minister on whether the CRU will allow special powers for ESB Networks.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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We have to maintain a certain independence. Sometimes as Minister it can be frustrating because I always seem to say in the first line of a response that I do not have responsibility for something or have to retain a certain distance, but that is true because of our legal systems and the need to allow regulatory agencies like the CRU and the ESB to operate.

I have been across this project for 20 years. I will be honest. My view is that the project is badly needed. I hope EirGrid will be able to deliver it while supporting and causing minimum disruption to local communities. We have to heed local community interests. Having an all-island electricity system is of huge benefit to the North and the South. The North is particularly disadvantaged at the moment. It is estimated that by the end of this decade, not having an interconnector will cost Irish consumer €87 million a year. Not proceeding with this will stymie the economy in the North and northern counties would be badly disadvantaged. The project is slightly further advanced in the North. It is a project that has to go ahead on both sides of the Border. I expect the CRU, the ESB and EirGrid, if they cannot get consent through voluntary mechanisms, to use the provisions of section 47 of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999. The Act gives the CRU the power to grant special orders in that regard. I expect that will happen if we cannot get a voluntary agreement. I do not think the northern authorities want to go back to the drawing board.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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While I thank the Minister, it seems that we are almost speaking different languages. The Minister made the case in terms of the merits and all-island strategic importance of the interconnector. I do not disagree with that, nor do Conor Murphy and my party. We disagree with the detail of the delivery of the project. To be fair, we have been proven correct for 20 years regarding this. Does the Minister have an update on the process? My understanding was that EirGrid sought a licence from the CRU for ESB Networks, under section 47 of the Act to which the Minister referred. Has that happened? If it has not happened, that may be indicative of something. What is it indicative of? Is the North taking a different approach? Has it had success in engaging with landowners? My understanding and expectation is that it has not. Ultimately, whether it is the Minister, another Minister or somebody else, we have to go back to the drawing board on this project or we will not deliver it in any way or form.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I do not think the northern authorities want to go back to the drawing board. I agree with them. As I said, we attended a meeting of the European Energy Council today and Mario Draghi's report was discussed. It is all about the grid and the future economy. Economic development in the North is not easy at the moment, given budget constraints and so on. If we do not develop the economy around this sort of infrastructure, it will be in deep trouble. I expect the North would like to see the project proceed and not go back to the drawing board. In fact, the North is further advanced and has, I understand, more widespread consent among the relevant landowners. There will be different views among landowners in the South, but I expect that the approach set out under the provisions of section 47 of the relevant Act are being considered. That is something the regulator has to deal with as an independent body.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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Does the Minister know that to be the case?

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I expect the project will advance. While maintaining my independence, my message is that we need to build the interconnector. It is good for the North and the South. In fact, if we do not have it, it would be a disaster for this country to go back to a divided energy system. That would be the worst outcome for this country and all of our people.