Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

To address Deputy Boyd Barrett, the technology is not there right now to put wind farms out where the Deputy wants to see them. That is the challenge we have. There is a significant depth drop-off on the east coast, so wind farms can go out only so far. I think the North Sea basin is very different from the Atlantic basin. I heard Deputy Boyd Barrett mention Germany and other countries on the North Sea side.

Floating turbines were mentioned. We are not quite there yet with the technology. That will take some time.

I accept the points raised about mineral exploration. I will read out the Government's draft policy statement on mineral exploration and mining to give a little context in that regard. It states:

There has been no mining and little or no exploration of scheduled minerals in Irish waters to date. Future exploration and mining for scheduled minerals in our marine waters is not anticipated at this point in time. Concerns have been raised regarding the lack of research and data available to inform a comprehensive understanding of the potential impact of mining in the marine space. Discussion at EU level has referenced the need to better understand the effects of deep seabed mining (i.e. mining in areas of the seabed beyond national jurisdiction) on the marine environment, biodiversity and human activities. It has been proposed that in advance of deep seabed mining taking place, it is important to ensure that the risks are fully understood and that the technologies and operational practices are able to demonstrate no serious harm to the environment, in line with the precautionary principle. Given the limited scientific knowledge currently available, it is proposed that mineral exploration and mining activity does not take place offshore or on the Irish seabed until such time as sufficient data is available to adequately assess the impacts of any such potential mining activity.

Deputy Gould mentioned fracked gas. There is a Government policy that deals separately with that. This is a planning Bill.

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