Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

-----as well as substituting wind energy and accelerating our full exit from fossil fuels and fossil fuel dependence.

The deployment of renewables for large energy users alone, Professor Daly noted, is unlikely to prevent scenarios such as gas lock-in or to ensure we do not breach our sectoral emissions ceilings. She points again to the need for mitigating measures around demand reduction. That is wind energy for the public good and not simply a competitor in an energy industry. It is one of the lifelines for the collective survival of our society and economy into the future.

With regard to offshore public wind farms, I welcome the fact that public consultations are under way. I note that in the recent report on biodiversity from the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action, of which I am a member, there is a clear acknowledgement of the importance of the regulation of marine environments. There needs to be an integrated approach to marine and coastal management, especially in light of our EU obligations to designate at least 30% of our territorial waters as marine protected areas by 2030. We have put the cart before the horse in some areas in that we looked at the permit system before we looked at the marine protected areas. Something we have heard in the climate committee from companies and those working in the wind industry is that in many cases they want certainty and to have funding for the environmental NGOs. They want good and appropriate environmental impact assessments. The more we put in to making good decisions and being clear about marine protection, the greater the certainty we will have around it. There is sometimes an attitude that we need to get past or around the planning process, whereas if we invest more in applying the environmental tools that are in place, we can make better decisions. That gives to industry the certainty it wants.

In addition to the tools I mentioned, we need more regulation and collective State investment in sonar and seismic activity. That means proper mapping of migration patterns of cetaceans and so on. When something is built, as well as where it is built, can make a big difference. The timing of seasonal migrations can be significant. These are areas where better regulations are not a block to the development of wind energy but will lead to better located energy and, as we know because it is one of the requirements of the taxonomy in terms of investment, the co-benefit that we are contributing to climate targets in a way that does not diminish but in fact supports our biodiversity targets. I think these two areas can be aligned. They are not contradictory and we can do better at integrating those two areas.

I urge the Minister to indicate how we will accelerate the marine protected areas process and those related sets of regulations and ensure they are reflected so that we make good decisions. I also ask him to comment on the issue of national wind energy, community wind energy and the environmental regulation piece. I had a few other points but will leave it at that. I thank the Minister.