Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman for the opportunity to address the committee. I thank also the witnesses attending from the Department. We are discussing a number of themes, including shipping, the aviation sector and the transport sector.

First, regarding shipping, Mr. Burke has highlighted that the infrastructural points being talked about and some of the carbon levies, for want of a better word, that will apply will apply to the main ports. He singled out, I think, that Waterford and Rosslare ports have a slightly different designation to the other three ports - Cork, Dublin and Foynes. He has also said more or less the same about the aviation sector, that the large airports carrying over a million people are being targeted and that they would be covered by these directives. As for competition policy, what will happen when people who are under the strictures of those guises - the large airports, let us say - look at the likes of Waterford Airport, which we want to see as a regional airport in the south east? Will they cry foul and say they face additional competitive restrictions because they are signed up to these initiatives whereas it looks like Waterford does not have to pay these levies or provide this infrastructure? That is the first question to which I would like an answer.

Second, Mr. Burke has spoken about the synthetic fuels, blended fuels and so on. It is like Groundhog Day to me. A number of years ago I was involved with a consortium that was trying to bring a plastics-to-fuel process into Ireland. We did a lot of work. We went and got changes to the European directive. We got it included on plastics-to-fuel. We could get no investment from the Government to support the economic development or employee take-up in this country, unfortunately, and that business was subsequently bought out and taken out of Ireland. What engagement does the Department have with key commercial players in all these sectors on energy generation, alternative fuel manufacturing and biogas generation? Is the Department speaking to people? Has it put people into its sights to talk to? Will it engage with commercial industry here to make sure we have something that is synergistic with the present commercial realities? We want to do this work and want to bring people in, but does the Department have a database, and what engagement does it have with industry players at present?

Third, I heard Deputy Matthews say we cannot have liquid natural gas, LNG, and that we must convert to wind. We have not got even as far as designating a wind port yet in our roll-out of offshore wind, so offshore wind is about ten years away. We will need LNG to continue. Also, we have no biomass plant in this country outside of one that has been privately supported financially, that is, not supported by the State. These are used for municipal heating systems throughout Europe. Has the Department any plans in that regard?

I think I have covered most of the main areas I wish to cover. I would like to hear the witnesses' thoughts on those three issues, please.