Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Burning coal is one of the most irresponsible and damaging forms of energy production in the world. Electricity generated from burning peat releases at least twice as much greenhouse gases as coal. That said, the ESB’s coal-fired power station at Moneypoint is Ireland’s largest single source of carbon dioxide emissions. If we are to meet our binding climate change mitigation targets - I am referring to the 2030 ones, as we will fall well short of the 2020 ones by 12 million tonnes of CO2 - we must cease destroying the environment with these immensely damaging power generation methods and move wholeheartedly into wind, solar and tidal energy. What are the Minister’s plans for these areas?

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