Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am happy to support the motion and Sinn Féin's amendment to it. Ireland has huge potential not only to meet its 2030 greenhouse gas targets but also to become a leading provider of green energy in Europe. However, this will not happen if proper and robust planning is not carried out now and the substantial investment needed in the sector provided.

Ireland is not on track to reach our target of offshore wind by the end of 2030 as things stand. Proper resources must be invested in our planning infrastructure to ensure it is equipped to deal with the scale of what is required if we are serious about meeting carbon emission targets. From what I can see, An Bord Pleanála is not resourced to deal with what is coming. It is also essential the maritime area regulatory authority is operational as quickly as possible to allow these projects to proceed.

The only port in Ireland capable of dealing with the construction of offshore wind farms is in Belfast. Proper port facilities need to be developed further down the east coast and on the south coast. This needs to be done as quickly as possible. Recently, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, indicated he was setting up a cross-departmental top team to drive the development of port infrastructure. However, there does not seem to have been any further movement on it since he made this announcement in September. A strategy is needed to bring together all those who will be involved in the provision of offshore wind energy.

The Irish electricity grid needs to be strengthened. The North-South interconnector could have been long established if EirGrid would agree to underground the project. We already depend on electricity for so many aspects of our lives and this will increase as we move more and more to electric cars, electric public transport systems and electric heating systems. Electricity is essential but it must be affordable. In order for this to happen, the State must take a leading role in the provision of electricity and ensure that semi-State bodies such as the ESB and Bord na Móna lead the way in the provision of onshore and offshore energy. However, they cannot do this unless they are properly resourced.

Many foreign private companies are eager to develop this sector because they see the potential. We must not give away the rights to renewable energy to foreign investors as was done before with regard to other natural resources. There must also be consultation to ensure proper buy-in from the people who live in our coastal communities, especially those involved in fishing, to ensure their livelihoods are not affected. We must not just be mindful but we must ensure that marine protected areas are just that. Strong consideration must be given to allowing community groups and co-operatives to become involved in the provision of wind energy. We have the potential to become the leading provider of energy in Europe and no longer depend on fossil fuels from abroad. This can only happen with proper planning and resources. Let us ensure this happens.

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