Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I agree with the Deputy that anything that reduces Ireland's dependence on the importation of fossil fuels is a positive development and there are certainly possibilities into the future in this regard. In addition, it undoubtedly would help to reduce Ireland's carbon emissions.

As for the role of NewERA in this regard, the main issue confronting the Government is the provision of adequate funding to continue the research under way. The NewERA proposition, in respect of whatever parallel stream of funding will be put in place, is to invest in additional job creation. I cannot honestly tell the Deputy that when this issue was being discussed, the question of ocean and wave energy generation was at the top of the pile. However, if progress is made in the use of the testbed, research and so on, it undoubtedly would be free to apply for funding from that source. However, the more immediate challenges relates to continuing the research work under way.

See this speech in context