The completion of the Celtic Interconnector must be an immediate priority for the Government, according to Fine Gael.

Senator Neale Richmond called for the rapid rollout of the Celtic Interconnector and said it is important that "we focus on the common areas of strategic interest to France and Ireland, particularly in the post Brexit era".

He said: "Ireland and France have a long and distinguished shared history. In recent years our mutual cooperation has been evident in many fields, particularly in the Agri-food sector with regard to the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP). Franco-Irish commerce is increasing on a weekly basis and supported by a range of state actors.

"In light of Brexit it is vital therefore that this mutual cooperation is built upon and strengthened.

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"Following the 2009 Interconnector Feasibility Report, a link between Ireland and France was determined to be both feasible and beneficial for the respective parties. That report proposes an electrical link between Ireland and France, which if built, will enable the easy transfer of electrical power between our two nations.

"The project has received significant backing from the European Union, particularly as it moves the EU closer to a system of electrical integration. Accordingly, the EU has designated the Celtic Interconnector the title of a Project of Common Interest (PCI).

"The financial assistance for the Celtic Interconnector, announced by the European Commission will be a boost to both the French and Irish Governments in this regard but every effort must be made to accelerate this now.

"The link itself would take the form of a 500 kilometre long undersea cable, which when combined with the portion on land, would have a total length of 600 kilometres.

"The total estimated cost for building the connector (as stated by the European Commission) currently stands at €7,720,664. Over the summer we saw the European Union pay fifty percent of the funding needed to complete this project, with the remaining fifty percent to be supplied by the state owned Eirgrid Group and Réseau de Transport d’Électricité in France.

"As with almost all current plans Brexit is relevant here. By building the Celtic Interconnector, Ireland will maintain a direct energy connection with a fellow EU member state in the aftermath of the UK's exit."

(CD/MH)