Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for coming in. The session in Boyle was useful from the point of view of trying to get a handle on Brexit from an energy point of view, and the potential difficulties and opportunities that is going to present. Three things are happening together - the European clean energy package, which has just been outlined, the withdrawal of Britain from the European Union and our international and moral obligations in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The session in Boyle crystalised it for me. We have to make these three things move in the same direction. We have to increase our energy independence and increase our energy security. It has just been outlined that we are 97% or 98% dependent for our gas supplies on imported gas. We do not control the valve. It will come through the British pipeline. We do not control that pipeline. There is the issue of other energy sources as well. Alongside that, while we are making good progress with electricity generation from renewable sources, in terms of meeting our commitments of reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions we are falling behind quickly. In terms of overall energy importation, we have to reverse the fact that we are 88% dependent for our energy on imported fossil fuels because they are not renewable.

Obviously they have a time limit, but there is a cost as well. The issue of Brexit has thrown up all that uncertainty.

In view of the above it would appear we have to turn the challenge quickly into an opportunity. We can moan about all the difficulties that Brexit will cause but there are a couple of immediate issues. The single energy market on the island is in existence since 2007. We want to see that continue and we want to see further areas of co-operation. In view of the clean air project that is under way on foot of this and that, I note, down as a high priority, if there is energy being imported or coming from an interconnector, be it from the North or from England, it may not come from renewable sources. They are ahead of us in some ways - Scotland is way ahead of us - but they may not be as ethical. Given some of the right-wingers who are running the show or calling the shots in England at present, how they produce it may not be as ethnical. One might have Trumpism arising, in terms of digging up coal anywhere one can get it and burning it. In that regard, where do we fit in and what are its implications?

The other question I have relates to the potential disruption of supplies if we do not control the pipeline. If it is passing through EU territory, that is fine. However, I foresee - I hope I am wrong - rocky negotiations with Britain and the other 27 member states. The other 27 member states cannot be seen to give England an easy ride on these matters. That opens up the potential for our security of supply being impaired. It also opens up the possibility of tariffs and the possibility of price increases. Have Department officials any update on that? Are there any projections as to what might happen in that regard? I do not expect them to have all the detail.

All of those issues tell me that we have to proceed in producing renewable energies quickly and sustainably to ensure that we have a level of energy security given the uncertainties arising from Brexit and all of the other matters.