Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

We have in our country a cluster of new independent Irish companies that have real opportunities to become world leaders in this area. They are working with international utilities and investors that are seriously considering investment in Ireland. We have to get a number of measures right for that. The budget figures are important, but they are not the crucial constraints. What Deputy Barrett says is true. The first thing they want is certainty around planning and community support. When one talks to the companies considering investment here, these are the first issues about which they are concerned. In that regard, I am confident we have the right people in the ocean energy unit. It may be some months late, but I prefer to get the right people in and the right strategy in place while taking the type of advice we are being given on the planning side, and putting that into action.

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