Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like Deputy Ryan, I must apologise. We had to be in the Dáil because we were speaking on the establishment of the climate change committee, which links in nicely to what we are discussing here. I have read the documentation the witnesses provided in advance. Perhaps they could help us understand the size of the oil and gas industry here. How many people are employed directly in it?

Ireland is not part of a major oil and gas exploration industry. Would the witnesses accept that if we are to set a standard in moving towards green energy we should be making a definitive statement that we are moving away from exploration for oil and gas? The Department and others will suggest that transitioning over a prolonged period will still require the usage of a certain amount of gas as a base energy provider. Is it not the case that a small country such as this, which has not really been involved in the exploration sector and notwithstanding the fact that we will have to import gas for a considerable amount of time into future, should be setting a standard in moving away completely from the use of fossil fuels? Accepting that there is a transition period and that we will have to import gas, do the witnesses accept that making such a statement will force investment in the energy sector towards green energy in this country and the delivery of electricity in a far cleaner way?

The suggestion put forward by the industry and by some in the Department is that we will continue to use oil and gas for a prolonged period in any case and, therefore, we should not cut off that supply and access to energy security. It must be accepted that we have never had enough oil or gas for security. What we are extracting at present does not give us long-term security. The information available to me does not lead me to believe that we are on the cusp of a major find that will ensure our security over the period to 2050, during which period everybody accepts we will still be using gas.

Would we not just be better off deciding here and now that, although we will still have to use fossil fuels as an energy source to an extent, we will move away from the exploration of fossil fuels in our waters? This would force the investment sector to look to other greener technologies where we have an abundance of resources. I am particularly taken by the research I have looked at on the potential to invest significantly in the capture of wind off our western shore. For sure it is at an early stage and the technology is not yet there but it will never be there while we continue to focus on what looks like a less expensive and more easily accessible energy source. As Deputy Eamon Ryan said, fossil fuel exploration is highly speculative. The one thing we are sure of is that there is wind and that is likely to continue. Let us set a standard that tells the investment community the State is up for this and wants to participate in developing green technologies.

There will be opportunities. As we know, Statoil has invested significantly in other jurisdictions in capturing wind. Given that the companies get it, why does the State not send a message that it is open to this type of investment and will support companies if they talk to us and tell us what they will need to get through the first phase of the considerable risk associated with developing offshore wind technology. Let us look to ways the State can provide the grid. For those in the renewable sector, including those attempting to develop offshore wind, the big question is how long access to the grid will take. The State is a big participant in the development and provision of the grid.

I listened to the Minister tell us what great changes we have made in terms of climate change because we were the first in the world to state all cars would be electric by 2045. I am not part of the Government, so I could make a prediction that if I am ever a Minister we will not have certain things in 2045. For the current Minister to make this type of commitment is meaningless. What we need is real action that will encourage the investment sector and community to develop green technologies. One of the best ways to signal this particular opportunity would be to say we will get out of fossil fuel exploration, and that as soon as the current crop of extraction has reached its natural life we will draw it to a close.