Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. It gives all of us an opportunity not only to debate the issues with regard to wind energy but also to outline our views on other renewable alternatives and methods of electricity generation that should be considered.

I read some statistics from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland which stated clearly that renewable energy has to date saved Ireland over €1 billion in fossil fuel imports. Ireland's dependence on the importation of fossil fuels stood at 85% in 2012; it was 90% in 2006. We spend over €6.5 billion per year on fossil fuel imports. It is clear to me, therefore, that that level of importation of fossil fuels is not sustainable in the longer term. Given the political and social uncertainties with regard to the provision of oil and gas, as an island we risk further exposure in terms of energy security and energy prices.

We have commitments also under the climate change arrangements we have engaged in to decarbonise our energy sector and considerably reduce our carbon emissions by 2020. We must therefore look across all sectors of the economy to find areas in which renewable energy sources can be utilised. The main contributing sectors to carbon emissions in Ireland are agriculture, transport, and energy. With regard to agriculture, we have ambitious targets for Harvest 2020 in the areas of beef and dairy production. I hear Deputies from all sides of the House calling for action on climate change, but when we have realistic propositions to reduce our carbon footprint, they oppose those projects. Wind energy is a perfect example of that. If we wanted nuclear energy in this country in the morning, I suspect the same Deputies would be jumping up and down about it. As politicians, we must show some leadership and not just tell people what they want to hear if we are serious about reducing our carbon emissions.

I welcome that the Minister and the Government are listening to genuine concerns with regard to wind farms, and communities are voicing those concerns. In that respect, I welcome the revised planning guidelines, about which the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, is currently in consultation. I hope those consultations will address many of the concerns of communities and the general public.

I welcome also the recent announcement by the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, that he intends to publish a Green Paper on energy provision. That will give all stakeholders an opportunity to engage in that process and voice their opinions on how they see us providing energy security in this island nation for the next 20, 30, 40 or 50 years. We have commitments with regard to decarbonisation. We have exposures to risk in the sense of dependence on fossil fuels, and we have opportunities to maximise the potential of our natural resources.

I am disappointed that some politicians take the populist line almost all the time, telling people what they want to hear. They call for climate change action but then oppose renewable energy projects. What we need is vision and leadership. We need a rational debate on energy security not only in this country but globally. We need a rational debate on climate change also. As I said, three sectors contribute to carbon emissions here, the first of which is agriculture, on which we are very dependent as an economy for recovery and growth. In terms of transport, we are limited as an island nation in reducing our carbon emissions. There is very slow progress in the area of e-cars. I would like to see more of them, but that would not put a dent in the targets we need to achieve. Energy is the third sector. When we talk about energy we must look at all the alternatives. Biomass is being proposed as one solution. Issues arise in that regard around security of supply and the supply chain for biomass, but I have said publicly that I am in support of wind farms where they are properly planned and managed and they do not have a negative impact on communities. That is the reason we need strong planning guidelines and that is why the Minister is bringing forward these guidelines, but as politicians we cannot have it every way. The time will come when the Opposition Members present, who may be in government in the future, will regret the day we did not take action on climate change and reducing our carbon emissions.

I accept the genuine concerns of the Opposition and the reason this Bill has been introduced, but my understanding is that if the Bill was implemented in the morning, it could wipe out this country's entire potential for realistic wind generation. I have concerns about the Bill. I understand the Government is allowing it to pass Second Stage, but there is a further opportunity now, with the Green Paper on energy and the planning guidelines, to try to address the concerns of communities. However, the energy security issue this country faces requires a wide-ranging, diverse response that includes wind energy, biomass and geothermal energy and that reduces our dependence on fossil fuels if we are to have a competitive, secure industry in the future.

I wish the Minister of State well with her planning guidelines. I hope the wider public will see that they are a genuine effort to address people's concerns and that they will provide opportunities for local authorities, and An Bord Pleanála, to manage the development of wind energy here in a responsible manner. That is the type of leadership we need. This country faces serious challenges economically, in energy terms and with regard to climate change. We cannot be all things to everyone, and I say that to politicians of all persuasions and none. We need to show leadership on this issue.

See this speech in context