Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

Fine Gael has stated in its press releases, which accords with the position of its Senators, that the PSO in respect of wind should be postponed. I assure the Deputy that the effect of so doing would be to kill immediately investment in the wind industry in Ireland. This would have huge consequences in terms of job losses, higher energy prices and, for the second time in a number of years, would create uncertainty in the financial markets that would kill a renewables industry that we are mandated to deliver and in which we have comparative competitive advantage. Fine Gael's suggested postponement of a PSO in support of such a wind industry would have a devastating effect on the development of renewables in Ireland. I ask the Deputy to reconsider his position and to support the Government's position of supporting the renewable industry because the Deputy's proposals would kill it.

See this speech in context