Delegation of Assembly Members heads to Donegal to put Wales at forefront of future Anglo-Irish energy deals
28 February 2013
A group of Members from the National Assembly for Wales will attend the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly (BIPA) plenary session in Donegal on 3-5 March.
It is the 46th plenary of BIPA, which brings together politicians from Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, the legislatures of Guernsey and Jersey, and the Irish and Westminster Parliaments.
The aim of the session is to discuss matters of mutual interest, with the theme of this Assembly being energy, and renewable energy in particular.
As part of the discussion, Assembly Members will be aiming to put Wales at the forefront of any projects that will see Irish and UK cooperation on energy provision.
“The UK Government is currently considering plans to import wind power from Ireland to the National Grid via cables under the Irish Sea to north and West Wales,” said the Assembly’s Deputy Presiding Officer and lead delegate, David Melding AM.
“It is estimated the £6bn scheme will generate enough power for three million UK homes, but more importantly from Wales’s perspective, the economic potential is great.
“Renewable energy has immense potential to provide a sustainable future for the economy in Wales and links with Ireland maybe key to that.
“BIPA is a very important in terms of cross-parliamentary relationships, so it is right that myself and my colleagues attend these sessions to ensure that Wales’s voice is heard loud and clearly.”
Mr Melding will be joined in Donegal by Darren Millar AM, Ken Skates AM and William Powell AM.