Deputy Naughten, please.

Quite a number of colleagues have raised the issue of the acceleration of the transition to a green economy over the course of the Order of Business. Last December, Dáil Éireann overwhelmingly passed a motion that, among other things, called on the Government to design a strategy in conjunction with the European Commission to fund and construct an Atlantic electricity interconnector that would plug west-coast renewable electricity directly into the European grid. This would provide large quantities of clean and green electricity to the EU and create tens of thousands of jobs along the western seaboard. This measure would also significantly reduce the cost of electricity for Irish homes, providing us with the cheapest electricity in Europe. To do this, we need to establish an offshore renewable development authority to drive the type of change and strategic thinking that is needed in this country to make this opportunity a reality. When will the Government implement the content of that motion?

The Deputy is right to identify the area of offshore renewable as one of great potential. That is why the Government passed legislation in respect of, and is setting up, the new maritime area regulatory body, which will early next year assume the full suite of statutory functions, in essence to make sure we have a system that is fit for purpose in licensing and regulating this sector. I will ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to revert to the Deputy in detail in regard to the Atlantic electricity interconnector the Deputy suggested.