Fine Gael Laois/Offaly TD, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, has said that a solution focused approach by all sides is needed in the Lumcloon Energy-Eirgrid conflict, which sees the State agency threatened with legal action in the Irish and European courts.

Deputy Corcoran Kennedy went on to restate her commitment to ensuring the success of the Lumcloon Energy project which will see the development of a power plant in Ferbane, Co Offaly. The project would also help create significant employment in the local area.

She said: "Lumcloon Energy has claimed that anti-competitive actions by Eirgrid are preventing them from developing the proposed power plant at Lumcloon, County Offaly, saying the State agency is dragging its heels in relation to the introduction of regulations and that the terms of development that are being imposed will make the project commercially unviable.

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"I have been working, in my capacity as a public representative, with Lumcloon Energy for many years now, and have arranged meetings with the Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte TD, and the other State agencies involved, to help facilitate the development of this project and ensure job creation for the local area.

"The project is very important for county Offaly as it would see the creation of a large number of sustainable jobs in the area and I have been working tirelessly in my capacity as a public representative to bring the project to fruition.

"I have read the legal opinion given to Lumcloon Energy which states that the actions of Eirgrid could be viewed as anti-competitive and thereby in breach of EU law. It is important that Minister Rabbitte, together with Eirgrid and the other State agencies involved in this project, come together to work out a solution to the problems faced by Lumcloon Energy.

"Lumcloon Energy has come to the table with a business plan that ticks all the boxes for job growth, as well as the promotion of renewable energy, and is ready to begin construction on the plant once the regulatory requirements are met. It is incumbent on the regulators and the State agencies to fulfil their role but also to ensure that they do not become a barrier to entrepreneurship."

(CD/JP)