Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

The Green Paper states technological advances are the key enablers of energy policy but the budget of €3.6 million of Exchequer funding for the energy research technology development innovation, RTDI, programme, in conjunction with third level institutions, seems tiny. The target for the period 2006-13 is €3.8 billion. The Minister might have examined the global allocation for energy research and development. He launched the Power of One campaign to highlight energy efficiency but we are still awaiting the energy conservation plan. Will he indicate when it will be published? It is disappointing that no measures have been launched to introduce smart metering or effective product labelling to show energy use and carbon implications. The Minister could also propose introducing energy matters to the national education curriculum.

As well as failing to discuss fuel and energy poverty, the Green Paper does not refer to microgeneration. The CER consultation document on the subject was finally received by e-mail today. It seems strange that this document which is aimed at the period 2025-30 contains very little about the matter. We receive complaints from constituents about the failure to deliver an effective wood chip transport system and to liaise with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on small wind turbines. In London Mayor Ken Livingstone has launched a city energy strategy with the ambitious target of 7,000 domestic solar panels and wind turbines in the London region by 2010. Regrettably, the Green Paper does not address microgeneration.

Regarding energy security and the market, the Financial Times stated "energy is too important to be left entirely to the magic of the market". The market in gas seemed to be on the verge of collapse at the time. The Minister has stated he will not support the fragmentation and atomisation of the ESB as discussed in the Deloitte & Touche report and the Green Paper. The Labour Party will hold him to his pledge.

The introduction of an all-Ireland market has been delayed again under the Minister's watch until November 2007. The ongoing, organic evolution of the Irish market and the commissioning of the east-west interconnector and other interconnector developments means that the ESB will lose its power to set the marginal cost of electricity. Thus, it will have a much higher residual supply index.

In the past few days we have seen the remarkable outcome of the debacle of the privatisation of Aer Lingus following the privatisation of Eircom. It is critical that the State retains control of the electricity and gas transmission and distribution network. In view of the energy security issue, the key generation assets of the ESB must remain under public control. The authors of the Deloitte & Touche report make this point when stating the retention of State control of key generation assets is favoured. The report makes clear that the retention of a strong, commercially viable ESB, providing certainty of direction for staff, shareholders and customers, must be a key element of Irish energy policy. This echoes Labour Party policy. I welcome the commitment given in the Green Paper to developing the second North-South electricity interconnector by 2012 and the delivery of the east-west interconnection by the same date.

Members of the House have been irritated by having to jump up and down like a jack-in-the-box during the Order of Business to ask about electricity Bills. The Minister proposes to recast the current Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill after one day of debate on Committee Stage. It is regrettable that this legislation was not published earlier, as is the fact that we are still awaiting the single electricity market Bill. The mathematical calculations necessary do not appear to have been completed. This is a blow to Irish families and business struggling to meet soaring energy bills. It is deplorable that the legislative basis will be produced in the dying days of the Government.

The Green Paper has high aspirations but lacks meat. It provides an opportunity for the creation of a White Paper that might serve as a useful blueprint for energy policy. I regret that energy and fuel poverty have not figured in the paper so far and that microgeneration is barely considered. I echo my colleague's comments on renewables, biofuels, research and development, and efficiency. The Minister has taken the first step in a vital national discussion that will be continued at the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. I commend him for bringing the Green Paper before the House.

See this speech in context