Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy asked a variety of questions. Obviously, safety has to come first. One of the issues with the networks is that green hydrogen has different characteristics such as much smaller molecules. Therefore, when it comes to the distribution gas network, even though ours is very modern, leakage becomes a more significant issue. Ports will be central to our hydrogen strategy because that will be the point where the offshore wind comes ashore. Most of our heavy industry and power generation plants, which will be the first application, can be found in ports such as the Port of Cork, where there are industries like biopharmaceuticals, refinery and power generation, and in Shannon Foynes Port, where there are companies like Aughinish Alumina and Irish Cement and the Moneypoint and Tarbert power stations. All the infrastructure is in the ports and they are likely to be the centre of this development.

We see transport as another key application. I will be honest. It will take a longer time. It will not be as easy to transition the haulage fleet. Electric vehicles, compressed air, gas or hydrogen will take longer. I am sitting down to work with the haulage industry to see what ways we can help it, which we immediately need to do in this difficult transition period. We have not found that mechanism yet, but I am confident we will do so in the coming weeks. We need to help the industry in this transition. It will take longer in haulage. We will still be-----

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