Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. A new energy White Paper, which my Department is currently in the process of finalising, will set out Ireland’s energy policy up to 2030, framed in the context of broader EU energy policy as articulated in both the energy union strategy and the EU's Framework 2030 for coherent climate and energy policies. The overall objective of the Energy White Paper is to provide a coherent, joined-up policy statement aimed at ensuring that Ireland has an energy system that will support the transition to a low-carbon society and economy by 2050. While a range of measures will be needed to support this transition, including the increased use of renewable energy, we have already made significant progress, with an estimated 22.7% of electricity generated from renewable sources in 2014. The Government remains committed to implementing measures to achieve Ireland's 2020 renewable energy targets.

The White Paper process started with a Green Paper on energy policy in Ireland, published in May 2014. An extensive consultation process was undertaken on this Green Paper, including a ten-week written consultation process, resulting in 1,240 submissions, and 11 focused seminars nationwide. This provided significant opportunity for the public, business and industry to have an input into the policy development process.

This consultation was augmented by discussions between my Department and other Government Departments aimed at ensuring a whole-of-Government approach to the development of the energy White Paper. I intend to bring the energy White Paper to Government for approval before the end of the year.

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