Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

From reading the conclusions of this European Council meeting it is welcome that Europe is both promoting the use of renewable energy among member states while also respecting member states who choose to use a different energy mix within the state that is tailored to their own needs. The White Paper on Energy Policy in Ireland, which is currently being drafted, will hopefully show that while wind energy is an effective source of renewable energy, we need diversity in the supply of renewable energy. We need to investigate the development of solar, wave and tidal energy. It is also welcome that a focus is being put on energy storage. As Ireland is an island nation, we have a lack of grid interconnection with the rest of Europe. It is important we focus on the development of energy storage systems, which would be of major significance to this country.

The improvement in energy efficiency in the housing sector is also a massive issue. The improvement in the level of energy efficiency to date has been very poor. It is also very important in tackling fuel poverty. I urge the Government to focus resources on alleviating fuel poverty with regard to energy efficiency. The most vulnerable in society should not be sacrificed during the transition to renewable energy. There needs to be a European-wide definition of fuel poverty and a sufficient strategy on how it should be tackled.

We learned recently that following years of loyal and unstinting commitment to the EU's austerity rules, regardless of their effect on the social and economic fabric of the State, the Government has now got a problem with the EU's budgetary rules. It is a little late in the day for the Minister, Deputy Michael Noonan, to be worried about the EU's austerity rules. What is shocking for most of us on this side of the House who have argued that those rules have been inefficient and unfair in the effect they have had on the poor and vulnerable is that the concern about the rules and the tough talking that is now taking place is due to the fact that the Government has made the promise of a tax cut to a certain income bracket, one that the members of Government inhabit. Where was the concern when the austerity rules were leading to a third of a million people emigrating? Where was the tough talk with the troika when the troika-inspired cuts were shrinking the economy? It is a little late in the day for the Taoiseach to be getting worried about austerity rules. He campaigned for them and implemented them in this State regardless of their social and economic cost during the past four years.

Last summer, Italy and France started to campaign for some flexibility and we in Sinn Féin called on the Government to back them, but all we heard was stony silence. As always, the Government follows; it is simply incapable of taking a lead in this issue. I imagine the Taoiseach's EU counterparts raised an eyebrow or two when they heard that suddenly Ireland wants to object to these rules. The Taoiseach and the Government have loyally implemented austerity rules on cuts and reductions without protest. I am more inclined to believe that this sudden turn of face, this new road to Damascus conversion by the Government has all got to do with the issue of expenditure benchmarks. This rule, which will apply to Ireland's budget in October, will, according to a reply from my colleague, Deputy Pearse Doherty, limit Ireland's new expenditure to €400 million.

See this speech in context