Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I would like to make a comment and a request. My precise point is that we are so reliant on fossil fuels that we should not see our future as a continuation of what we are doing now. As we try to deal with climate change, surely we have to factor an energetic and well-funded ambition to move away from fossil fuels into what is going to happen over the next ten or 15 years. There is no evidence of such an ambition. This is the problem with everything we do here. The evidence of a commitment to renewable energy in this committee and in the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment is not strong enough. The Minister of State says and writes wonderful things, but I am sorry to say it is just rhetoric. Where is the evidence that we are actually driving ahead with a determined attempt to get renewables to the top of the agenda? Rather than doing this, we are issuing licences.

The Minister of State startled me when he referred to the number of applications for more drilling and more extraction of fossil fuels from our shores. I would appreciate it if the Minister of State could email me the beginning of his reply. I am particularly interested in the list of those who are informed of these decisions, which seems to consist of everybody from An Garda Síochána to the lighthouse keepers. Is there any chance he could inform the Deputies and Senators who sit on this committee and try to grapple with the challenge of climate change that licences are to be issued? We should find out when we are on our holidays in County Donegal or elsewhere that the Minister has made a decision of this nature. I suggest it is extraordinary carry-on.

My point, which has not been addressed, is that we need a discussion on our whole energy strategy. On the one hand, we are saying lovely things about renewables, climate change, communities, and wind and wave energy, etc. On the other hand, we are flying ahead with the issuing of licences for the extraction of more fossil fuels from our shores.

The suggestion made that we should sit down with the energy sector and examine all these issues is a very good one and I would like to see it implemented. Otherwise, this is an extraordinarily frustrating experience.