Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is my intention to bring forward the scheme as quickly as I can, but my immediate priority is the renewable heat incentive scheme. We have not been sitting on our laurels. We have been engaged with the Commission on solar costs and it has indicated that import levies on solar panels are likely to be lifted. One of the first things I did as Minister was to sign the North Sea agreement with all of the countries involved, including the United Kingdom, in order that we could share knowledge and technology in the roll-out of offshore wind projects. It is becoming more cost effective, but there are still challenges. There is no doubt, however, that there are huge opportunities in using wind, tidal and wave power off Ireland's coast. We must remember that our territorial waters are ten times the size of the landmass of the island of Ireland. There is massive potential. I am trying to ensure we can encourage and support the development and roll-out of these technologies and do not place an excessive burden on consumers. At the European Council yesterday I raised the issue of how we might support micro-generation because consumers not only have the opportunity to meet their own needs but also to actually export to the grid excess energy and electricity supplies they generate.

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