Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and Deputies O'Sullivan and Devlin. I have some questions on programme B myself. Subhead B.5 deals with energy research programmes. I am delighted to see such an increase in funding for research.

We were all very happy down in Limerick, Clare and Kerry when the ESB announced about ten days ago a project of vast scale to begin to harness the huge amount of power off our west coast, but we are aware that the ESB's plans represent only the start of an even bigger project. Off our west coast, there is about ten times more energy that we will ever need. If we harnessed that, as the ESB plans, we would become a net energy exporter. The proposal is to generate green hydrogen using electrolysis. Major technical research is required into figuring out how to do this. Research on the route to market is also required because, although all countries are at the very start regarding green hydrogen, there is no reason Ireland cannot get in ahead of other countries and run with them. There are some very ambitious plans across the world in the area of green hydrogen. We can be there too.

There is €6 million for ocean energy research and there is also €250 million for ocean energy research, development and demonstration and €200 million for the ESRI. I do not know what is within those figures. Is funding to be allocated for both technical research and route-to-market research in the area of green hydrogen? We need to start making a move on this if we are to realise the potential that exists and become a global leader in this area.