Dara Murphy (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Murphy raised this point earlier and I fully agree with the sentiment and the point she is making. In Ireland and across the European Union we have had a protracted period of under investment in renewable energy sources and the targets we set ourselves a number of years ago will not be achieved. The energy conference in Paris in December will present an opportunity for the world to look again at the direction we are taking in regard to achieving a more sustainable environment.

The Deputy made a valid point regarding the complementary nature of the ambition of achieving our energy targets and achieving growth. I believe the recently announced investment package by Jean-Claude Juncker should be targeted at energy and renewable projects. At the European Council last Friday, the Taoiseach succeeded in having a clause inserted in the text that proposes that poorly connected and peripheral countries should be given extra consideration in respect of projects. Therefore, there is potential within the new fund to consider the complementary ambitions of addressing areas where Europe and Ireland have under invested and of helping achieve the type of growth that will come from that spending. The interconnection project between Ireland and France could benefit in this regard. I believe the application on this project is at an advanced stage and it could supply energy for up to 500,000 people.

A number of weeks ago, we had interesting discussion in Ringaskiddy with the French Minister for European Affairs on the potential for the development of marine energy, whether from wind or wave. This was not just in regard to the Irish coast. France has an extensive coastline itself and shares our ambition.

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