The Energy Minister has confirmed he is committed to European Union measures to enhance cooperation in the development of energy infrastructure.

Speaking at a meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications, Minister Alex White said he would strengthen security of energy supply, sustainability and competitiveness.

Minister White said: "Following the Council, I read press reports of some very ill-informed criticism of Ireland's energy policy, and of our contribution to European measures to tackle climate change. My report to this Committee underlines our active engagement in regional cooperation in this area, including in the North Seas Countries Offshore Grid Initiative.

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"I can also assure the Committee that Ireland is fully committed to making its contribution to the overall EU 2030 targets for carbon emission reductions, energy efficiency, and the share of energy from renewable resources.

"Measures to help deliver our transformation to a low-carbon society will be at the centre of the Energy Policy Paper, which I will publish later this year.

"Completing the internal energy market is the key to the Energy Union. However, we need to avoid imposing one-size-fits-all decisions on all Member States. Instead we should provide safeguards and flexibilities, particularly for peripheral Member States with poorly interconnected markets. I reiterated this message at Council."

(CD/JP)