Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following:

"commends the Government for its comprehensive actions to ensure a sustainable energy future for Ireland, delivering a reliable supply, efficient use of energy, competitive prices and diverse fully sustainable energy sources through:

— ensuring that electricity supply consistently meets demand;

— ensuring the security and reliability of gas supplies;

— overseeing ongoing investment in electricity and gas networks;

— prioritising energy efficiency and conservation;

— delivering a diverse and sustainable fuel mix; and

— in particular:

— its prioritisation of electricity interconnection and grid development, including the East West Interconnector on schedule for 2012 with EU funding support, and the North South Interconnector, together with the development of further interconnection to the UK and mainland Europe;

— its commitment to ensuring all-island gas security through its support for the new European framework for security of gas supply and emergency planning under the forthcoming Regulation, and investment in the transmission system, bilateral arrangements with the UK and facilitation of Liquefied Natural Gas and gas storage projects;

— its delivery on increased levels of strategic oil stocks held on the island of Ireland, through new National Oil Reserves Agency facilities which will come on stream in the next three years and its ongoing commitment to rebalancing of strategic stocks in favour of stocks held on the island of Ireland;

— the exponential investment in national energy infrastructure currently under way by the State energy companies, including EirGrid's GRID25 €4 billion investment by 2025 in developing Ireland's high voltage transmission Grid, ESB's investment of €22 billion to decarbonise the national energy system, and Bord Gáis Éireann's investment in gas networks and energy supply;

— the accelerated development and deployment of renewable energy technologies including offshore and onshore wind, bioenergy and ocean, delivering the national target of 40% renewable energy in electricity in 2020, and creating the conditions for Ireland to become an exporter of energy with consequent economic and security of supply benefits;

— radically enhancing energy efficiency and conservation through unprecedented funding for energy efficiency programmes, including the Home Energy Saving Scheme, Warmer Homes, industry support programmes, the public sector energy efficiency programme, energy efficient equipment tax incentives and the roll out of the National Retrofit Programme this year; and

— maintaining a stable and sustainable environment for hydrocarbon exploration and production, including the strengthening of the regulatory safety framework through the enactment of the Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Act 2010."

I wish to share my time with the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cuffe.

See this speech in context