Mr. Justin Moran:

The opportunities are enormous if we can develop the projects. I stress two points in that regard. The first is the need to move forward with the delivery of Powering Prosperity, the offshore wind industrial strategy. The next iteration of it will go out to consultation before the end of the year. The expectation is that the next version of the strategy will be launched in quarter 1 or quarter 2 of next year.

In terms of the potential to drive the industry, that is a really good opportunity for this committee to engage on. Wind Energy Ireland represents the people who build and operate the wind farms. We also represent the entire supply chain from beginning to end. We are very keen to build a strong Irish offshore renewable energy industry.

There is a secondary opportunity in looking at the interest that is out there in accessing clean energy. One of the things we will be keen for the Department of enterprise to pursue is trying to locate green energy parks for large energy-demand medtech super conductors. Waterford is a perfect location for it, not just because of the academic supports and the strong business community that is there but because we will have enormous amounts of renewable energy that can come onshore in the Waterford-Cork-Wexford area. Let us try to use that as a way to attract investment into the south east.