The decision by the European Commission to change its energy policy, and to question state supports for renewable energy, undoubtedly influenced the failure to develop an inter-governmental agreement to export wind energy to Britain.

This was stated by Independent MEP Marian Harkin when she welcomed the development and said that it provide an opportunity to review Ireland’s total energy policy.

She said:- “When the European Commission on January 22nd announced changes to emission targets I described it as a game changer for Irish energy policy.  If, at some time in the future, the export of wind energy is again considered it should be within a total national energy policy and have much greater focus on the social and community issues which arise from the development of large scale windfarms.

“The government should now take the opportunity arising from this development to totally review energy policy including the €3.2 billion Grid 25 project which is not justified at this time even if it had no relationship to the wind energy export proposal.   When the Minister who developed the country’s current energy policy Eamon Ryan has agreed that it needs to be reviewed the current Minister, and the Government, should be concerned to examine whether at a time of reduced demand for electricity there are more appropriate uses of scarce financial resources”, Marian Harkin MEP concluded.