Sinn Fein has welcomed the Government's announcement that the Renewable Energy Export Project has been delayed.

The Minister for Energy issued a statement today saying they'd failed to reach an agreement with Britain within the 2020 EU deadline.

Pat Rabbitte, says greater trade in energy between Britain and Ireland is inevitable post 2020 - but for now, there are several complexities which are delaying the project.

The plans include constructing a series of wind farms across the Midlands and selling that power to the UK.

Laois-Offaly TD Brian Stanley is Sinn Fein's spokesperson of Environment.

He's welcomed today's announcement - saying it allows more time to carry out a full analysis on how best to roll it out.