Dáil debates

Thursday, 11 November 2021

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions

 

12:10 pm

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

This will be a very serious weekend for the world, as eyes turn to COP26 in anticipation of what the outcome will be. Our former President, Mary Robinson, made an emotional appeal to world leaders yesterday for more ambitious action to be taken. She is right; we cannot negotiate with science or facts. This is on our watch. If we do not radically act to reduce our carbon emissions, temperatures will rise by more than 1.5°C. I want to see a better future for my children, Aoibhe and Senan. I am sure the Minister wants the same for his children. I want them to have a healthy planet to grow up on. I also want a prosperous Ireland for them that can continue to attract jobs and inward investment.

Climate change is real; we know that. However, I am seriously concerned about our energy security and the delays in delivery. I have been raising the issue week after week in the House. We are not acting fast enough to decarbonise. I believe we are losing inward investment and world-leading companies, potentially. Developers of offshore wind are continually frustrated by delays. We will have to resort to the use of emergency gas generators in the years ahead. Most offshore wind developments remain a pipe dream until 2023, when the new maritime area regulatory authority, MARA, will be up and running. It is said that most of those projects will not come online until 2028, which will be too late to help with emission reductions and meeting our target 5 GW of offshore wind by 2030. Serious questions are also being asked about our grid infrastructure, regulatory and planning processes and why we find ourselves at risk of blackouts. Personally, I must say that I am at a crossroads as regards my confidence in the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, and EirGrid. Moneypoint, which is located close to where I live, was to become a base for renewable energy and green hydrogen. Instead, it is back to burning coal. Equinor has pulled out of the €2 billion offshore floating wind farm development that would have powered 1.5 million homes. It is embarrassing.

I had the honour of representing Ireland at the Paris Agreement talks. I know how important the issue of climate change is. It is a challenge but it is also an opportunity. Ardnacrusha was built and we were at the forefront in relation to our foresight of where we needed to go as regards renewables. We are now at a very difficult crossroads. Ireland is reportedly one of three possible countries on a shortlist for the development of a major Intel plant. We are all aware of it. It is very important. A number of other projects, industries, businesses and companies are also potentially coming to Ireland. However, we are facing reputational damage. What efforts is the Government making at COP26 to deliver a meaningful deal that will change this for us on the ground? Has the Government got some tactics or strategies to look at fast-tracking renewable energy projects, especially offshore wind and solar? Critically, is foreign and direct investment at risk because of the lack of generating capacity and grid infrastructure?

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.