The Irish and British governments today agreed a formal arrangement that paves the way for the flow of natural gas into Northern Ireland.
The Minister for Communications and Natural Resources, Mr Dermot Ahern, and the British Ambassador, Sir Stewart Eldon, signed the agreement to transmit gas by a second pipeline between the Ireland and the Britain.
The agreement, while designed to allow the pumping of gas between the two countries on the second sub-sea interconnector, also puts in place the framework to allow the transmission of gas on a new pipeline between Belfast and Gormanston, Co Meath.
The pipeline, expected to be constructed in 2006, will link the gas networks North and the Republic for the first time.
Mr Ahern, speaking at the signing ceremony in Co Meath, said: "This agreement allows for natural gas to be pumped across the Border from the second interconnector.
"Along with increasing north/south electricity links, the fact that we will be linking the two separate gas networks provides even greater security of supply and will ultimately provide for larger joint markets for consumers."
The Government has provided €12.7 million toward the cost of building the gas network in Northern Ireland.
The first gas interconnector between Ireland and Scotland was built in 1993. Mr Ahern said that because of forecast demand the two governments pressed ahead in commissioning the second sub-sea pipeline which ensures security of supply until 2025.
The €308 million pipeline runs almost parallel to the first gas interconnector and links Beattock in Scotland and Gormanston, Co Meath.