Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

The energy White Paper was published on 12 March 2007. It sets out a comprehensive range of policy actions designed to deliver on our strategic goals for security of supply, sustainability and competitiveness over the period to 2020. There is no doubt that we need to make fundamental changes to the way we provide and use energy. Ireland's sustainable energy future depends on it. The programme for Government endorses the White Paper and underlines the imperative to secure long-term energy security and a low carbon future for Ireland. The urgent and massive challenge of climate change underscores this imperative.

The many policy actions in the energy White Paper have different timelines. The short-term actions are under way. Others have longer time horizons with work starting now. As the Minister responsible for energy, my clear objective is accelerated, intensified delivery on all fronts, reflecting the challenges we face. To achieve a secure, sustainable energy future for Ireland we need collective delivery across all the priority areas.

I will outline some of the key priority areas and associated progress. The single electricity market is on schedule to go live on 1 November. The energy efficiency action plan has been launched for consultation and will be finalised before the end of this year.

The east-west and north-south electricity interconnectors are proceeding according to schedule, with a view to delivery by 2012 or sooner if possible. We are giving priority to accelerated delivery of our renewable energy targets for electricity and heating by addressing barriers and ensuring positive signals to the market. We are putting in place measures to support the potential of Ocean Energy as a key opportunity for Ireland.

The all-island grid study is nearing completion and will provide critical underpinning for future development of the grid in support of renewable energy. We are expediting the programme of roll-out over time, of the installation of smart meters in every home through the Commission for Energy Regulation, ESB Networks and Sustainable Energy Ireland.

The policy actions under way and planned in the White Paper, together with the additional commitments in the programme for Government, will result in a transformed landscape for the Irish energy sector. I am committed to working in partnership with my Government colleagues and with all stakeholders to deliver that change. The challenges of security of supply and climate change have created a new energy paradigm for Ireland for Europe and globally. My objective is to meet the challenge of being ahead rather than behind in energy policy terms in addressing that new framework.

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