Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I am very glad to hear the Deputy's comments on the sense behind our onshore programme. Would he not agree, on that basis, to change what he has said in terms of stopping the PSO for onshore wind - concerning which he issued a statement in August - and which could create enormous devastation for the wind industry, if put into practice? I ask him to come back to me on that.

As regards offshore, we are looking into the question of costs and have worked out various cost scenarios. First and foremost we would have to get the REFIT scheme through Europe and have absolute confirmation on capacity and payments. In advance of that we cannot be absolutely specific on what the costs would be. Critically, I am very ambitious for the development of offshore resources, but in the context of their presenting an export opportunity for Ireland into the UK and French markets. We are working extensively with our UK and French colleagues as well as other governments across Europe on the development of an offshore supergrid for north western Europe, and it will be possible for us to get part European funding to support such a grid. It is on the basis of that work and plan that I see a future for an Irish offshore grid, and not just in respect of the 800 MW mentioned here. In the medium term we could be looking at a 5 GW development of offshore wind, within the Irish Sea, which we could, perhaps, exploit as an export opportunity into neighbouring markets.

However, that requires further work and analysis, as well as co-operation and trading arrangements with the UK and French Governments. We are working on that under the ISLES project, which is doing exactly what the Deputy is looking for. It is looking for a detailed market analysis as to how this can happen. I see us developing our offshore industry under that structure, as possessing massive economic potential for this country in exporting wind power, something I should have thought Fine Gael would also have been interested in.

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