The Government has announced it won't meet it's European 2020 deadline to facilitate Green Energy Export from the Midlands to the UK.

The Department of Energy says given the economic, policy and regulatory complexities involved - delivery by 2020 is not realistic.

Economic analysis shows that renewable energy trading can deliver significant economic benefits to Ireland including major job creation.

The Minister for Energy Pat Rabbitte believes it will still happen some time in the future, after 2020.